In a new memoir titled Sinatra and Me: In The Wee Small Hours, Tony Oppedisano, renowned singer Frank Sinatra's close confidant and former road manager, sheds light on the late artist's strong belief that Marilyn Monroe's death was not an accidental overdose but a carefully orchestrated murder.
Oppedisano shares that Sinatra never got over the conviction that his dear friend had been intentionally killed.
Contrary to popular belief, Sinatra and Monroe were not involved romantically.
Although Sinatra found Monroe to be beautiful and funny, he regarded her as too troubled and fragile for a casual fling.
Their bond, however, ran deep, and Monroe confided in Sinatra about her intimate affairs with both John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy.
According to Oppedisano, when Monroe's relationships with the Kennedys abruptly came to an end, she expressed her confusion to Sinatra, wondering why they had completely shut her out once she stopped being s**ually involved with them.
In the days leading up to her tragic demise, Monroe spent time at the renowned Cal Neva Lodge near Lake Tahoe, which Sinatra partially owned.
Unknown to the public, she intended to announce her reconciliation with ex-husband Joe DiMaggio the following week.
Speculation arose that Monroe would divulge details about her relationships with JFK and RFK during the press conference.
However, Oppedisano debunks this rumor, stating that Sinatra firmly believed Monroe still harbored feelings for JFK and would not have exposed their secrets.
He further asserts that if the press conference had not been announced, Monroe might have lived longer.
Shortly after Monroe's death, Sinatra's attorney Mickey Rudin, who had also worked with Monroe, informed him of a shocking revelation: the actress had been murdered.
This information circulated among Mob Boss Sam Giancana's associates, some of whom claimed involvement.
Sinatra had multiple sources corroborating the same story – that Monroe was killed using a Nembutal suppository, and either Robert Kennedy or the Mob were implicated.
Even after more than five decades, the truth behind Monroe's death remains an enigma, with conspiracy theories continuing to thrive.
Oppedisano acknowledges that he cannot dispel these theories conclusively.
However, one thing remains clear: Sinatra was haunted by Monroe's untimely demise.
In his later years, Sinatra would often reminisce about Monroe and other close friends, such as Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin, in intimate conversations that lasted until dawn at his cherished Palm Springs retreat.
These stories were kept private for many years, but now, 23 years after Sinatra's passing, Oppedisano hopes to reveal the human side of the iconic musician by sharing these anecdotes.
“I aimed to capture the essence of a man whom very few people truly knew, but I had the privilege to understand,” Oppedisano affectionately remarks.
“I believe he knew that someday I would share the stories he wanted the world to know.”
For an in-depth exploration of Frank Sinatra's hidden secrets and captivating life, grab a copy of this week's issue of PEOPLE magazine.
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