The singer passed away at 52.
The wife of late Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell has issued a statement about her 52-year-old husband’s sudden passing.
Read: Medical Examiner Ruled Soundgarden Singer Chris Cornell's Death A Suicide
While the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s concluded that the singer's death was a suicide, Vicky Cornell said she believes her husband’s death could be drug-related. In a statement, she said he was taking anxiety medication Ativan.
“When we spoke after the show, I noticed he was slurring his words; he was different. When he told me he may have taken an extra Ativan or two, I contacted security and asked that they check on him,” she said in the statement.
“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.”
Kirk Pasich, the Cornell family attorney, echoed Vicky Cornell’s beliefs that an extra dosage of the medication may have caused the musician's death.
"Without the results of toxicology tests, we do not know what was going on with Chris — or if any substances contributed to his demise," Pasich said in a statement. "Chris, a recovering addict, had a prescription for Ativan and may have taken more Ativan than recommended dosages. The family believes that if Chris took his life, he did not know what he was doing, and that drugs or other substances may have affected his actions."
The singer was found with a band around his neck inside a MGM Grand Casino hotel room in Detroit around midnight Wednesday, according to police.
According to reports, one of the final songs Soundgarden performed Wednesday at the Fox Theater was a cover of Led Zeppelin's "In My Time of Dying," which features the lyrics: "In my time of dying, I want nobody to mourn / All I want for you to do is take my body home."
In her statement, Cornell's wife also reflected on her final days with her husband.
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“Chris's death is a loss that escapes words and has created an emptiness in my heart that will never be filled. As everyone who knew him commented, Chris was a devoted father and husband. He was my best friend. His world revolved around his family first and of course, his music, second,” she wrote. “He flew home for Mother's Day to spend time with our family. He flew out mid-day Wednesday, the day of the show, after spending time with the children. When we spoke before the show, we discussed plans for a vacation over Memorial Day and other things we wanted to do.”
She concluded her statement thanking fans, friends, and family for their love and support.
“The outpouring of love and support from his fans, friends and family means so much more to us than anyone can know. Thank you for that, and for understanding how difficult this is for us,” she wrote.
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