A couple is pursuing legal action against Mayor Karen Bass concerning the Brentwood bungalow where Marilyn Monroe passed away. Unfortunately, the beautiful pool that once offered the iconic star a sanctuary has been filled in.
Now, aerial views reveal that grass has taken over the space where the famous pool was located in her once-celebrated backyard.
Nearby, new residents have purchased a large adjacent property featuring an expansive mansion and a new pool. As the photos indicate, there seems to be no division separating the two properties.
The couple is aiming to demolish the infamous site of Monroe’s death and is gearing up for a legal showdown with Bass and the city of Los Angeles over the rights to the property.
Brina Milstein and Roy Bank acquired the house in 2023 for over $8 million, according to a lawsuit filed in connection with the case. Shortly thereafter, they secured city approval to take down the structure and begin construction anew, as stated by one of them.
However, issues arose when the city quickly designated the home as a “Historical and Cultural Monument” in 2024, right after they had received the necessary permits.
It’s a bit unclear when the pool was filled in—this was the same pool adorned with Spanish tiles selected by Monroe herself. Attempts to reach the current owners went unanswered on Thursday.
Interestingly, a portion of Monroe’s final interview with Life magazine in July 1962 took place poolside. She referred to the bungalow as a “cute Mexican house” and expressed her intention to befriend anyone who admired it.
This house, set on a quiet dead-end street amid a prestigious neighborhood, has drawn tourists since August 1962, when Monroe’s body was taken from there.
Monroe was discovered in the master bedroom, surrounded by prescription medications. A barbiturate overdose led to her death, with suicide being suspected.
Milstein and Bank argue in their lawsuit that for six decades following Monroe’s death, the city neglected any interest in the property, despite numerous renovations and multiple ownership changes that occurred over the years.
They assert that the historic designation has effectively rendered the $8.3 million property unusable for their intended purposes.
