Marilyn Monroe's mysterious death still fascinates after 50 years

One of Los Angeles' most enduring and debated death mysteries began 50 years ago today.

On Aug. 5, 1962, the body of Marilyn Monroe was found in the bedroom of her Brentwood home. The 36-year-old movie star was naked and face down on her bed.

An autopsy conducted by Dr. Thomas Noguchi, then deputy medical examiner for Los Angeles County, concluded that death was due to acute barbiturate poisoning, and a psychiatric team tied to the investigation termed it a "probable suicide."

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Whether Monroe died by her own hand has been debated and dissected by books, documentaries, conspiracy theorists and Hollywood and Washington insiders alike for years.

Enough credence was given to the various reports that in 1982, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office reexamined the case.

The D.A.'s review concluded that "the cumulative evidence available to us fails to support any theory of criminal conduct relating to her death."

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The Times investigated the questions surrounding Monroe's death in this story from 1995:

Through the years, questions have been raised about whether she was murdered because of her association with John and Robert Kennedy; the exact time the actress' body was discovered; where she got the pills that killed her; and why an ambulance was dispatched to the scene when official reports indicate that she was lifeless when found.

In 2005, The Times looked at what officials have learned about her final days.

Tell us your memories of Monroe and her thoughts on the debate over her death.

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