LOS ANGELES -- A Los Angeles judge has ruled that a letter by Marilyn Monroe in which she described the difficulties of performing belongs to a buyer who purchased it at auction for $130,000.

City News Service reports the ruling Wednesday is in favour of the auction house Profiles in History and against 75-year-old Anna Strasberg, the widow of Lee Strasberg, who was Monroe's acting mentor.

Anna Strasberg once served as administrator of the Monroe estate and collects the actress' memorabilia.

She sued the auction house, saying the letter was missing from her collection. She alleged it was stolen.

Profiles in History maintained the letter was actually a draft version that was found by a housekeeper at the Hotel Bel-Air and it was never sent to Lee Strasberg.