Brittany Murphy died of natural causes, members of her family say

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A month after Brittany Murphy’s mysterious death, her mother and husband say they are convinced the actress died of natural causes, not drugs or an eating disorder.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Sharon Murphy and Simon Monjack said that Murphy did not use drugs or alcohol and that they are awaiting a determination from coroner’s officials that will end speculation that prescription medicine caused Murphy’s death on Dec. 20 at age 32.

Monjack said some of the prescription medications found in the couple’s Hollywood Hills home belonged to him.

Murphy had mitral valve prolapse, a common condition where a heart valve does not properly close, but doctors said the actress “would live a long and healthy life,” Monjack said.

“She had a fear of dying,” Sharon Murphy said. “She would not take too much caffeine. She wouldn’t even have a glass of champagne on New Year’s. She was just high on life, and people see that as something else, I guess.”

Murphy, the star of varied films such as “Clueless,” “8 Mile,” “Sin City” and the television series “King of the Hill,” was buried in a private funeral on Christmas Eve. At the service, Monjack told mourners that the actress was his best friend and soul mate.