Autopsy reveals Chris Cornell committed suicide

After his final gig at Detroit’s Fox Theatre, Cornell was found dead at his hotel. The family stated ‘they would be working closely with the medical examiner to determine the cause and asked for privacy.’

Later, Detroit police said the Chris Cornell’s death was being investigated as a possible suicide. The medical examiner’s office has then conducted a first autopsy on the body and determined that the Soundgarden singer had killed himself by hanging in a Detroit hotel room.

According to their lawyer Kirk Pasich, Cornell had a prescription for the anti-anxiety drug Ativan, which he said has various side effects such as paranoid or suicidal thoughts, slurred speech and impaired judgment.

Cornell’s wife, Vicky Cornell, stated that when she spoke to her husband after the Detroit show, he said he may have taken ‘an extra Ativan or two’. She added: “What happened is inexplicable and I am hopeful that further medical reports will provide additional details. I know that he loved our children and he would not hurt them by intentionally taking his own life."

The family issued a statement through the attorney refuting “inferences that Chris knowingly and intentionally” killed himself. They want the full autopsy report including the toxicology tests before drawing any conclusions.