title: Marilyn Monroe: Murder - by Consent: A Psychologist's Journey With Death
author:  Jack V. Hattem 
description: The author is a first generation American, with both parents speaking five languages fluently. He spoke only French until he was five years old. Unfortunately for him, he lived in Brooklyn, New York at the time. The family moved to Long Beach, Long Island, a reclaimed sand bar south of the main island, separated by one bridge. A nearby neighbor was the Godfather, Frank Costello. Our city was advertised as The Safest City In The U.S.A. The author left home for the army and Virginia Tech. Marching out of step for the rest of his life, he attended six universities thereafter, until becoming a psychologist. Continuing his need for multiple experiences, he worked for the Veteran's Administration a Peace Corp. project, taught at four colleges and started a labor union for psychologists which still exists. He taught first year medical students about sex and interviewing and psychiatric residents about diagnosing and group therapy. He supervised two private counseling centers, trained two hundred psychiatrists and numerous other mental health professionals. He remarried and currently has six children and grandchildren. After retirement, he used his early experiences to manage money for select clients. Writing this book was a labor of love. I have had an enduring interest in Marilyn Monroe and the Suicide Prevention Center for forty five years.
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  January 28th 2005
  
  
  Marilyn is standing by the railings inside the deserted park. A low mist
  settles on her hair and clothes, on the hospital blanket that is wrapped
  around the baby asleep in her arms. He is three days old. His face is furrowed
  and while he sleeps his fingers curl and uncurl in slow motion.
  
  
  Marilyn is watching Martin’s house. Martin Halton has gone to work but his
  wife, Beth, is still at home and it is Beth she has come to see. She has never
  spoken to Beth, but she has seen her, and something in her serious, pointy
  face looks right. Is this a mistake? Marilyn crushes the thought before it can
  bloom into panic, punching all the breath out of her chest. What she is about
  to do is enormous and irretrievable. It is too big for thinking now.
  
  
  She presses her nose against the baby’s head and inhales the curdled sweet
  smell of him. It hurts where they stitched the tear. It feels like she is
  falling to pieces.
  
  
  Cars flash past, strobed through the r