Celebrity deaths, or any death for that matter, can be a morbid topic. But when a major celebrity passes away and the cause of death remains unexplained, it can be even more unsettling — and often, more fascinating. Many people believe that due to their fame and influence, they are more likely candidates for some kind of foul play and suspicious circumstances. Throughout the years, there have been some celebrity deaths that left many questions unanswered and have even resulted in years-long conspiracies and theories. Here are 5 Celebrity Deaths That Are Still Unexplained
- Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain’s death in 1994 is perhaps the most well-known celebrity death that still remains unsolved. On April 8th, Cobain was found in his home in Seattle with a shotgun blast to the face. Authorities ruled the death a suicide, and many people accepted the findings with sadness and grief.
However, for years (and to this day) there have been many theories about Cobain’s untimely death, with some believing the circumstances surrounding it were suspicious. Some believe the suicide had been staged, with Cobain’s buddies and family at the center of the conspiracy. Even Hole frontwoman and ex-wife of Cobain Courtney Love had her own suspicions from the start.
- Bob Crane
Bob Crane’s 1978 death has sparked conspiracy theories for over 30 years. An American actor best known for his role in the sitcom Hogan’s Heroes, Crane was found bludgeoned to death in his Scottsdale, Arizona home. The first autopsy made the cause of death look like it happened while the actor was sleeping, and a no-contest plea deal to second-degree murder was made with John Henry Carpenter, Crane’s former friend and photographer. Carpenter was sentenced to probation.
However, it wasn’t until decades later when DNA evidence proved that it wasn’t a match with the blood found at the crime scene. This finding led to the speculation that the murder may have actually been committed by someone else with Carpenter merely taking the rap.
- Natalie Wood
Natalie Wood’s 1981 death still leaves many questions unanswered. Alongside her husband Robert Wagner, actor Christopher Walken, and crewmember Dennis Davern, Natalie had been sailing the Splendour, Wagner’s family yacht anchored off the coast of Catalina Island. After an evening of drinking and arguing, Wood vanished from the boat and was later found dead in the waters wearing a nightgown and a down coat.
Wood’s death was initially labeled as a drowning but investigators later changed it to an ‘unsuitable death.’ Then after a change of witnesses, in 2018 the coroner’s office deemed the cause of death to be ‘drowning and other undetermined factors.’ Many believe that Wagner (or possibly Walken) had something to do with Wood’s death, although neither party has been named in any wrongdoing.
- Biggie Smalls
Christopher Wallace (a.k.a. Biggie Smalls) was murdered in 1997 while driving away from a charity event in Los Angeles. He had been shot four times in the chest and no one has ever been arrested for the crime.
Some theorize that it was a revenge attack due to his rivalry with Tupac, who was murdered just six months earlier. Others speculate that it had something to do with Wallace’s entanglement with the East Coast/West Coast hip-hop feud. Still, many wonder if it was a hit orchestrated by corrupt law officials.
Ultimately, as of 2018, the case is still considered cold, with investigations continuing to no avail.
- Brittany Murphy
Brittany Murphy’s untimely death occurred on December 20th, 2009. The actress, most known for her roles in Clueless and 8 Mile, had been found unresponsive in her home located in the hills of Hollywood. According to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s autopsy report, Murphy had died of natural causes due to pneumonia and multiple drug use.
However, in 2011, husband Simon Monjack and Murphy’s father Angelo Bertolotti had the tissue sent out for independent testing with shocking results. It was revealed that high levels of the heavy metals zinc, chromium, and barium were present in the actress’ tissue, which sparked speculation that Murphy had been poisoned.
These findings resulted in multiple requests for further investigations from the Los Angeles Public Health Department, though they all went unanswered.
The Debates Around Unexplained Celebrity Deaths
Unexplained celebrity deaths have been a major source of conspiracy discussion and arguments for years. With the technology available today it’s easier than ever before to delve deep into these cases and come up with theories on the Internet and beyond. As a result, the opinions are often divided when it comes to these celebrity deaths and it’s hard to tell who’s right and who’s wrong.
However, what is certain is that many of these deaths have put the spotlight on the media and the established justice system, whereby many dark truths and injustices have been revealed.
Determining What Makes a Death Suspicious
What makes a death suspicious? Is it the lack of physical evidence, or perhaps the speed or manner in which the authorities reached their conclusion? Or is it simply in the eye of the beholder? These questions remain difficult to answer and require an in-depth evaluation of the available evidence.
For one, the physical evidence at a crime scene is often the determinant factor when it comes to what the authorities rule the death caused by. This includes the autopsy report, blood spatter analyst’s conclusions, and bullet holes or thermal change on the body.
In addition, toxicology reports can help determine possible methods of murder like poisoning. In the case of Brittany Murphy’s autopsy, toxicology results indicated the presence of heavy metals in Murphy’s tissue.
When it comes to unnatural deaths, the cause must be determined before questions can be answered. There are some cases where it is hard to determine whether a death is natural or the result of something more sinister. In those cases, additional evidence and elaborate investigations are needed to get the answers to some tough questions.
A Lack of Certainty and Silver Linings
Due to the lack of evidence and closure that many of these celebrity unsolved deaths have, in addition to the instability of the media circus typically surrounding them, we’re often left with more questions than answers.
Unfortunately, we may never know what really happened to Cobain or Murphy, and in some extreme cases, like Biggie Smalls’, we may never know who was behind the murder either.
But, what these celebrity deaths do leave us with is the knowledge that no one is above the law. By opening up the conversation about these unsolved celebrity deaths, and keeping it alive, we can all help bring light to situations in which no one may otherwise be looking. Many cases, although still unsolved, have gone on to bring down pimps, mob bosses, and even a sitting president.
Celebrities have a powerful influence on our culture, and these mysterious deaths bring the public to question their power and control. Though some of the deaths have been solved, the aforementioned five celebrity deaths that have yet to be explained remain an enigma. With the advancement of technology, it is still possible that more evidence will be found to explain the cause of these deaths. Until then, there is still hope that the questions left unanswered can one day be solved.