Brittany Murphy's Husband May Have Spent Most of Her Money

By Catherine Donaldson-Evans Posted Jul 28th 2010 02:00PM

Seven months after her untimely death, sordid details of Brittany Murphy's troubled life and marriage continue to emerge. Her former business manager, Los Angeles-based accountant Jeffrey Morgenroth, tells PEOPLE that her husband Simon Monjack was squandering the late movie star's fortune just before his own sudden death in May from pneumonia and anemia, which also killed Murphy.

"There were huge amounts of money in [Brittany's] pension plan and bank account, and all of that's gone," Morgenroth tells the magazine. "I would see it on the statements. There was money being withdrawn by Simon, hundreds of thousands."

Morgenroth says Monjack had spent nearly 80 percent of the 32-year-old star's assets in the months between her death and his, rattling the financial future of Murphy's mom, according to PEOPLE.

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=803297&pid=803296&uts=1280338869

http://www.popeater.com/mm_track/popeater/movies/?s_channel=us.moviespop&s_account=aolpopeater,aolsvc&omni=1&ke=1

http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf

Brittany and Simon

Flowers grow outside the home once shared by Brittany Murphy and Simon Monjack. The screenwriter was found dead May 24 near the same room his wife collapsed in December. More Images >>

Getty Images

Getty Images North America

Brittany and Simon

HOLLYWOOD, CA - MAY 24: Publicist Roger Neal approaches to hold a press conference outside the home of Simon Monjack after he was found dead by his mother-in-law on May 24, 2010 in Hollywood, California. Monjack, 40, was the widower of actress Brittany Murphy who was found dead at home five months ago on December 20, 2009. The coroner determined she died of pneumonia complicated by an iron deficiency, anemia and multiple drug intoxication while Monjack's death according to reports may be from natural causes or prescription drug use. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

Brittany and Simon

HOLLYWOOD, CA - MAY 24: Publicist Roger Neal (R) approaches to hold a press conference outside the home of Simon Monjack after he was found dead by his mother-in-law on May 24, 2010 in Hollywood, California. Monjack, 40, was the widower of actress Brittany Murphy who was found dead at home five months ago on December 20, 2009. The coroner determined she died of pneumonia complicated by an iron deficiency, anemia and multiple drug intoxication while Monjack's death according to reports may be from natural causes or prescription drug use. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

Brittany and Simon

HOLLYWOOD, CA - MAY 24: Photographers and reporters look on as people arrive at the home of Simon Monjack after he was found dead by his mother-in-law on May 24, 2010 in Hollywood, California. Monjack, 40, was the widower of actress Brittany Murphy who was found dead at home five months ago on December 20, 2009. The coroner determined she died of pneumonia complicated by an iron deficiency, anemia and multiple drug intoxication while Monjack's death according to reports may be from natural causes or prescription drug use. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

Brittany and Simon

HOLLYWOOD, CA - MAY 24: Photographers and reporters talk to people leaving the home of Simon Monjack after he was found dead by his mother-in-law on May 24, 2010 in Hollywood, California. Monjack, 40, was the widower of actress Brittany Murphy who was found dead at home five months ago on December 20, 2009. The coroner determined she died of pneumonia complicated by an iron deficiency, anemia and multiple drug intoxication while Monjack's death according to reports may be from natural causes or prescription drug use. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

Brittany and Simon

HOLLYWOOD, CA - MAY 24: Photographers and reporters watch as Publicist Roger Neal approaches for a press conference outside the home of Simon Monjack after he was found dead by his mother-in-law on May 24, 2010 in Hollywood, California. Monjack, 40, was the widower of actress Brittany Murphy who was found dead at home five months ago on December 20, 2009. The coroner determined she died of pneumonia complicated by an iron deficiency, anemia and multiple drug intoxication while Monjack's death according to reports may be from natural causes or prescription drug use. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

Brittany and Simon

HOLLYWOOD, CA - MAY 24: Publicist Roger Neal holds a press conference outside the home of Simon Monjack after he was found dead by his mother-in-law on May 24, 2010 in Hollywood, California. Monjack, 40, was the widower of actress Brittany Murphy who was found dead at home five months ago on December 20, 2009. The coroner determined she died of pneumonia complicated by an iron deficiency, anemia and multiple drug intoxication while Monjack's death according to reports may be from natural causes or prescription drug use. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

Brittany and Simon

HOLLYWOOD, CA - MAY 24: A tour bus drives past the home of Simon Monjack after he was found dead by his mother-in-law on May 24, 2010 in Hollywood, California. Monjack, 40, was the widower of actress Brittany Murphy who was found dead at home five months ago on December 20, 2009. The coroner determined she died of pneumonia complicated by an iron deficiency, anemia and multiple drug intoxication while Monjack's death according to reports may be from natural causes or prescription drug use. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

Brittany and Simon

The actress left her entire estate to her 57-year-old mother Sharon Murphy, who was close to both her daughter and son-in-law, and no money to her husband.

"She was looking at the pension statement and I said, 'Look. There are almost no zeros there,'" Morgenroth said of Sharon Murphy. "She needs guidance on how to deal with things."

Morgenroth didn't immediately respond to PopEater's requests for comment.

High-profile women's rights lawyer Gloria Allred, who isn't involved in the Murphys' financial dealings, said it's best for the rich and famous to leave money matters to the professionals to avoid being taken advantage of.

"It's important for women celebrities and women in general to handle their own money and their own business affairs," Allred told PopEater. "Mixing love and money can cause problems, and there are danger signs if a celebrity is isolated from family and friends."

Murphy died after collapsing in her bathroom on Dec. 20. Five months later, her British film producer husband was found dead in the couple's home at the age of 40.

Autopsies confirmed the causes of death for both were pneumonia and anemia, with multiple drug intoxication also blamed in Murphy's case. The coroner said she had over-the-counter cold medicines and the pain killer Vicodin in her system.

Reports that household "black mold" may have been a culprit in the couple's deaths have been disputed by Murphy's mother and the Los Angeles Department of Health.

Since the pair's controversial marriage in 2007, rumors have swirled about Monjack's controlling behavior over Murphy, his shady financial dealings and their alleged drug abuse.

Morgenroth says Monjack took his wife's cell phone away and wouldn't let her see him when he came to the door to ask her to sign tax forms, according to PEOPLE.

"The excuse was her hair was messed up," he said. "I was at the front door and Brittany [called down] and said, 'Hi Jeff, sorry I couldn't see you, bye.' It sounded fishy and weird."

Murphy was reportedly fired from the last film she made, 'The Caller,' because she refused to send away a drunk and combative Monjack when he appeared on the set unannounced and disrupted filming.

Monjack also was implicated in a credit card fraud case, charges that were brought in Virginia and ultimately dropped. He spent just over a week in jail in early 2007 for letting his work visa lapse. In 2006, a $500,000 judgment against him was handed down in a lawsuit brought by a financial investment company in England.

His mother Linda Monjack denies that he blew through his dead wife's savings.

"He didn't get much, maybe a few hundred dollars, and he paid off his debts with it," she tells PEOPLE. "He was spending his time crying his eyes out most of the time. He was in a terrible state."

While Monjack's behavior after his wife's death has come under increased scrutiny, it seems his mom is also not immune. Jeannette Bycott, an assistant to Morgenroth, tells PEOPLE that she saw Linda Monjack order Murphy's mother out of their house in a bizarre scene.

"Linda started acting like everything belongs to her," says Bycott. "Before Sharon could say anything, Linda stated the house was now hers."

Tags: brittany murphy, simon monjack

Comments

(77)

Wednesday 28 July

By HUH

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

And any of this is our business because?? Were we cheated out of our share? Must be a very slow news day.

By Dave

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Um....your reading "PopEater". What exactly did you think you were going to get, a breakdown on quantum physics? LOL!

By George

It's follow up news on a hot topic story. Write your own stories and get them published if you're such a snoot.

By mickey

Probably ought to change the last name from Monjack to Hijack.

Monday 30 August

By Chanel

Vote down Vote up Report this

Your name explains my response: HUH??? And you should change it to DUH? Seriously, why are reading this then????? DUUUUUHHHH-Da-Da-Da....Dummmmmmbbbbbb.

Thursday 29 July

By texthereok

AND ?

By BTDT

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

The business manager calling the dead guy a thief.
This Monjack character sounds pretty unsavory, but a dis-interested third party should have a look at the records.
Just because.

By janice a.

I personally think that Brittany's mother should be questioned too.She was there when both Brittany and Simon died. Hmmmm.

By lucky

If he did indeed spend most of Brittney's money, her mother is an idiot. I wonder if she will still defend him after she realizes he stole her daughter's money.

By Leenie

NOO Way was that mother an idiot...no no no no no!! SHE was probably involved with that misery and now she has all the daughter's money... I have a crystal ball.... I bet I am right!

By threefromil

Happens to many estates, someone gets ahold of the money before the wheels are in motion.

By J.T.

Oh PLEASE!! ofcourse the business manager is going to tell the mom no money for her and blame it on someone who is dead! Mom needs an attorney. The business manager is probably headed to the Bahamas.

Friday 30 July

By H

Your so right on that one....He probadly pulled a "Madoff" on her cash and bank accounts and now since she's dead, he needs to cover his a-s-s.

By BOOWAH

Simon was a leech, period! The no talent tag along planned Brittany's death when he set this all up. He knew he'ed be able to withdraw the money before Brittany's mom even knew it was gone. What he didn't plan on was dying. Maybe he drank the same "Kool Aid" that Brittany drank by accident!

By Michelle Charity Fortune

I don't see what the fuss is about. Many bereaved people spend every dime they have to try and mask their pain. Others travel but usually spending money goes along with mourning. Almost as frequently as having sex.

By hd

Actually michelle s correct. If you want to con a person out of money DO IT when they are grieving a loss ... Funeral homes do it ALL of the time ...

Im glad teh husband spent the money because I think the mother killed her duaghter and even if she didnt she has been leeching off of her for her entire life ... Sharon its time to go sling hash or work at the local Gas Station. The house was in his/her name as married so that goes to his heir ... His mother verses old LEECH Sharon Murphy.

Two young people die of pneumonia and anemia, and no one is looking at homicide??

By Barbara

Drug can cause both conditions.

By Kevin

Really homicide, from pneumonia and anemia, how would you kill somebody that way?

By Snipe Bob

It was his money to spend wasn't it? Why's it anybody elses business? Quit counting OTHER people's money and mind your own business!!

Page 1 of 4