Unsung Muslims in American History: Samir Muqaddin investigated Marilyn Monroe's Controversial Death in 1962

Samir Muqaddin signs copies of his new book, "Memoirs of a Deputy Coroner: The Case of Marilyn Monroe"

The case of Marilyn Monroe is the most talked about celebrity deaths in history. The Hollywood actress, who was linked to some of America’s most powerful men, was found dead on the morning of August 5th 1962, at her home in Brentwood, CA. The cause of death was determined "probable suicide", a ruling that left many questions unanswered and has fueled rumors of a cover-up for more than 50 years.

Although most of these theories have been simply shrugged off over the years, one of them has perplexed experts right from the beginning. It's the story of Samir Muqaddin, the Deputy Coroner who officially investigated Monroe's case and signed her death certificate. In his new book, "Memoir's of a Deputy Coroner: The Case of Marilyn Monroe", he details an incredible story that reveals one of the biggest conspiracies of the 20th century.

In 1962, Samir Muqaddin, who then went by the name of Lionel Grandison, was a Deputy Coroner for the Los Angeles County. Married with 3 kids at the time, he was the first and only African American Coroner’s deputy working for the County. Growing up in Pacoima, California, Muqaddin was a graduate of San Fernando High School. He had married his high school sweetheart, Alithra, in 1958 and a year later their first child was born.

Samir Muqaddin (Lionel Grandison), and his wife Alithra in 1958

Muqaddin first began working for the Coroner’s office in 1960 at the age of 20, becoming involved with several high profile cases. Perhaps the most significant of these came just a few months before Marilyn Monroe’s death. On April 27, 1962, Los Angeles Police officers ransacked a Mosque in Los Angeles, leaving 7 unarmed Muslims wounded and one dead, named Ronald T. Stokes.

The County of Los Angeles scheduled a Coroner’s Inquest to determine if the shooting was justified. With racial tensions at an all-time high, Minister Malcolm X had arrived in town, seeking justice for his fallen Muslim brother. Muqaddin was selected to serve as the liaison between Malcolm and the Coroner’s Office. He would privately meet with the minister and members of the Stokes family to address their concerns about the Inquest. Muqaddin would guide them through the process and assist with their Inquest questions, while helping to avoid an explosion between Nation of Islam members and the LAPD.

Praised by Malcolm X for his assistance, this would become the young deputy's first encounter with Muslims and ultimately set him on the path to mainstream Islam. However, his next assignment would change his life forever. Just 4 months later, he walked into the office and discover Marilyn Monroe had died. More importantly, the case was being given to him.

From the very beginning of his investigation, strange events began to unfold. In his book, Muqaddin describes an unauthorized attempt to remove Marilyn's body from the death scene, then witnessing medical and police evidence being hidden from the files. When he made complaints they would go ignored by his superiors, who included Dr. Theodore Curphey, the chief medical examiner for the county of Los Angeles.

Muqaddin describes how he and Dr. Curphey had clashed in other controversial celebrity cases, most notably George Reeves, who played TV’s Superman in the late 50’s. Curphey had also ruled his death a suicide despite key evidence to the contrary.

During Muqaddin's investigation he would also make a startling discovery. Hidden in her personal property would be a little red diary, apparently written by Marilyn Monroe herself.

Diary would contain details of her relationships with John Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Mafia members and strangest of all U.S. Intelligence agencies. That diary would be mysteriously disappear from the evidence safe never seen again. Events like this plagued Muqaddin's investigation of the Monroe case, but nothing could have prepared him for what was yet to come.

Muqaddin, would be coerced into signing Marilyn's death certificate, then set-up and charged with a crime. Completely discredited, he was forced to resign from his deputy position and leave the Coroner's office in disgrace.

In the mid-70’s, Lionel Grandison would change his name to Samir Muqaddin after converting to mainstream Islam in 1975. He launched a fledgling media company called Black Awareness in Television - California, which came to be known as BAIT-CAL.

In 1982, Muqaddin would lead the charge to reopen the Marilyn Monroe investigation and clear his name. With the help of an investigative journalist named Robert Slatzer, he would testify before the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. The Board would request a Grand Jury investigation upon hearing his testimony.

However, Los Angeles District Attorney John Van De Kamp, a close friend and supporter of the Kennedy family, had other ideas. He told the Board of Supervisors that the DA’s office had decided to launch their own inquiry in to Monroe’s death. Van De Kamp ordered assistant district attorney Ronald Carroll to lead the investigation. Carroll interviewed Muqaddin and other witnesses about the case. However, he would quickly dismiss all the evidence as unreliable and ultimately closed-down the entire investigation.

Muqaddin writes about the entire story in his book, Memoirs of a Deputy Coroner: The Case of Marilyn Monroe. Available on Amazon, it provides an in-depth look at his entire investigation and gives all the details of events at the Coroners office, his ordeal with Malcolm X and what he read in Marilyn’s Diary.

Now 74 years old, Muqaddin is a very active member of the Muslim American community. He also frequently does book signings and recently had new art piece commissioned, by internationally acclaimed fine artist Jameel Rasheed to commemorate his 50-year involvement with this historic case. Moreover, he never misses the opportunity to express the significance of the Marilyn Monroe story.

Samir Muqaddin is an unheralded American hero who continues to serve as an example of persevering against odds in the interest of truth and justice. A new movie is now the works to bring his story to the big screen. Perhaps then the world will truly see how one man stood up for not only himself, but for one of Hollywood’s biggest legends .