Simon Monjack, Brittany Murphy's Husband, Found Dead at Home

Simon Monjack, the controversial widower of Brittany Murphy, was found dead early this morning in his Los Angeles home. He was 39. Not much is known about the circumstances beyond their eerie similarities to Murphy's own death five months ago -- right down to the cause of death in the same bedroom in the same house.

According to police, the scene was not so unlike the one they'd discovered back on Dec. 20 of last year: Murphy's mother Sharon discovered Monjack unconscious in the master bedroom of their Hollywood Hills residence around 9:30. She called 911; paramedics' resuscitation efforts failed shortly thereafter, and Monjack was pronounced dead at the scene. Cardiac arrest has emerged as the unofficial cause of death as the case moves forward to the coroner's office.

Prescription drugs were found at the home, but preliminary reports say nothing illegal was among them. Murphy herself, who also succumbed to cardiac arrest, was found to have had "elevated levels" of Vicodin and other drugs in her system; her death was ruled accidental, but preventable. The LAPD has ruled out both suicide and foul play for the time being.

Monjack made headlines in the immediate aftermath of Murphy's death by mishandling pretty much every possible thing, from launching a charity foundation that was set up as little more than a Pay Pal cash-grab to filing a wrongful-death suit against Warner Bros. on Murphy's behalf -- on the same day he released photographs he'd taken of Murphy in all kinds of odd, fetishy poses and scenarios. Factory Girl director George Hickenlooper called Monjack out as a "con man and a bad guy" for allegedly suing his way to writing and producing credits on the 2006 film; Monjack responded at the time: "It is a real tragedy that success, greed, envy and celebrity are the motivation for attacking my family and character."

Anyway, this is all just sad and a waste. More details as events warrant...

· Brittany Murphy's Husband Found Dead [TMZ]