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New Toxicology Report Suggests Actress Brittany Murphy May Have Been Poisoned

HOLLYWOOD HILLS (CBSLA.com) — A new toxicology report suggests rat poison may have killed actress Brittany Murphy.

Murphy died from pneumonia in 2009, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner. Her husband, 40-year-old Simon Monjack, also passed away from the same ailment five months later.

In 2011, the late actress' mother claimed the two died from 'toxic mold' and said the couple's home was to blame.

Angelo Bertolotti, Murphy's estranged father, sued the Los Angeles Police Department and the coroner in 2012, alleging the investigation into his daughter's death was mishandled.

Bertolotti won the right to have Murphy's hair, blood and tissue tested by an independent company, which found the actress had high concentrations of ten heavy metals in her system and that she may have been intentionally poisoned.

The Carlson Company's results were obtained and published by The Examiner.

Heavy metals are commonly found in rat and insect killers and the website reports the metals can cause the symptoms Murphy experienced prior to her death.

The Los Angeles County Coroner said Tuesday that they have not seen the results.

"Her father has not contacted us or provided us any of that information to review," Ed Winter said.

"She deserves justice," said Julia Davis, a writer and friend of the late actress.

Davis has followed the story since Murphy's death and has searched for answers together with Murphy's father.

"We feel relieved in a sense that it confirmed our suspicions, but now we want to prompt LAPD and the coroner to reopen their investigation," Davis said.

"I am hopeful these new forensic revelations will compel the authorities to open a new investigation as a court of global public opinion awaits the truth as to who was responsible for their untimely deaths," Murphy's father said in a statement.

"He's determined to continue the fight until we find out who the perpetrators are and bring them to justice," Davis said.

RELATED STORIES:

Brittany Murphy's Father Sues LAPD, Coroner Over Daughter's Death Investigation

Brittany Murphy's Mother Claims Toxic Mold Killed Her Daughter, Son-In-Law

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