Hollywood star and American icon Marylin Monroe has played a huge role in American history, and her legacy lives on today. 

     When she was pronounced dead in 1962 after a barbiturate overdose, many Americans could not accept that their brightest star was gone. When the autopsy report was ruled as probable suicide, Americans questioned if that was actually true. 

        Many say it would be impossible for there to be no pill remnants in her digestive system after her death, which is why the Penn-Trafford forensic science class still investigates the case nearly 60 years later. 

     Forensics teacher James Rocco has been doing this case study for the past 10 years, in particular because he said Monroe was such an influential iconic figure, and there is so much mystery surrounding her death. 

     The case requires students to figure out if it is possible for there to be no pill remnants left in her stomach. Students have to replicate the 64 pills and the stomach using forensic toxicology. 

      Rocco explained that the case begins with trying to take something that can be discovered, asking questions, and then trying to answer it with original experimentation. Doing so, students can take charge of the classroom and learn. 

     Each year it goes differently and he said he never knows what’s going to happen. The high school can not use the high-end laboratory equipment, so it requires the students to be creative, Rocco added. 

     Partners in the case this year, Anna Vidra and Marin Polechko agree that the biggest challenge was determining the best method to stimulate the stomach. But after testing the hypothesis, they were able to conclude that Marlyin Monroe did attempt suicide, and it is possible for no pill remnants to be left. 

     After investigating the case both Vidra and Polechko stressed that they also learned more about the type of person Marilyn Monroe was. 

      ¨After learning more about Marilyn Monroe, I have a lot of respect for the way she was able to make a name for herself even with her rough childhood. I feel bad that she was never able to get the help she needed in the end,¨ said Polechko. 

       Another junior student, Jonathan Moorhead, said the reason why the case was interesting was because Monroe may be the most famous woman in American history, and there are many speculations surrounding her death.

      It is clear that Monroe left an impact on American History, which is why her case leaves an interesting learning opportunity for the forensics students at P-T. Even after her death Monroe lives on for many.