'Simon took her away': The shocking claims about Brittany Murphy's husband in new documentary

The following contains details from the two-part documentary "What happened, Brittany Murphy?" streaming on HBO Max.

Nearly 12 years after a star's shocking death, the HBO Max documentary "What Happened, Brittany Murphy?" revisits the actress's life and tragic end. At 32, Murphy was found nonresponsive in her Los Angeles home in 2009 and was pronounced dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Despite the title of the two-part project, the doc actually offers little new information about the actress's death. It does, however, do a good job in clouding Murphy's husband, Simon Monjack (who died of similar circumstances five months later in 2010), in further suspicion. Those interviewed – journalists, Murphy's "King of the Hill" co-star Kathy Najimy, her friends and a director of one of her last films – paint Monjack as a controlling, creepy villain.

Dr. Lisa Scheinin, the deputy medical examiner who conducted Murphy's autopsy, also appears in the documentary and explains her findings – that Murphy died of pneumonia with anemia as a contributing factor. Scheinin describes Murphy's iron deficiency as a "life-threatening situation" and concludes the actress would've been battling a severe case of pneumonia "for some time." Though Murphy had prescription and over-the-counter medications in her system, Scheinin says, "she had no evidence of alcohol or any drugs of abuse in her system."

A new documentary about the life and mysterious death of Brittany Murphy is coming

'She was so wonderful': Dakota Fanning recalls the best advice she got from Brittany Murphy

It's Scheinin's belief that medical intervention could've saved Murphy's life that will pain fans.

"If she had gotten to a hospital early enough, you can detect pneumonia on a chest X-ray," she says in the film. "It's very easy to do. They could've possibly started treatment, but she would've had a chance."

So then the question naturally becomes, "Why didn't she go to the hospital?" Elizabeth Ragsdale, who was previously engaged to Monjack and says she shares a child with him, believes her ex is to blame.

"I believe that Simon Monjack – even if he did not kill Brittany Murphy – he allowed her to die because he did not get her to the doctor and get her help," she says in "What Happened." "And I believe that he did the same thing to himself."

Here are the most shocking claims about Monjack, Murphy and their relationship from the new documentary:

Brittany Murphy's father, Angelo Bertolotti, 92, dies nine years after his daughter

The 50 best TV shows to watch on HBO Max right now: 'Insecure' Season 5 arrives in October

Murphy worried she was 'dying'

In an appearance in January 2010 on the "Today" show, Monjack, alongside Murphy's mother, Sharon, told former morning show anchor Matt Lauer that Murphy was fine leading up to her death. "She had a little bit of laryngitis," Monjack said. "That was the only thing. Other than that she was perfectly healthy and well."

But the next month, to Larry King, Monjack, again paired with Sharon, told King that Murphy struggled for air on the day of her death. "That morning she woke up. She couldn't breathe," he said. "She went out to get some air. Sharon followed her out. (To Sharon) I'll say this because I know you can't. She said, 'Mom, I'm dying. I love you.' "

A stunned King asked, "She knew she was dying?" It seemed Murphy knew exactly how severe her illness was, which again raises the question of why she didn't seek medical attention. In "What Happened," Simon's mom, Linda Monjack, recalls a conversation with Murphy that occurred "just before she died." "'I'm having trouble breathing ... (When) I get to the top of the stairs. I can't breathe,'" Linda remembers Murphy saying. "She said, 'Do you think I'm dying?' I said: 'No, of course you're not dying. You're fine, but you need to go to the doctor.' "