Photo: Press
The coroner’s autopsy and toxicology report on the passing of the late Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell has found that “drugs did not contribute to the cause of death.”
As previously reported in Gigwise, Cornell was found dead in his Detroit hotel room last month. The coroner’s office ruled his death as “suicide by hanging.” The ruling was questioned by Cornell’s family who said that the singer may have taken an accidental double dose of the prescription anxiety drug Ativan which in turn may have affected his actions.
Rolling Stone reports that Wayne County assistant medical examiner Theodore Brown has determined that the cause of death was suicide and that drugs did not contribute to his death.
Brown’s post mortem report stated: “It is my opinion that death was caused by hanging. Based on the circumstances surrounding this death and the autopsy findings, the manner of death is suicide.”
Seven different drugs were found in Cornell's post mortem toxicology report, including a significant dose of the anxiety medicine Ativan. These included "butalbital, lorazepam, pseudoephedrine and its metabolite norpseudoephedrine, caffeine, and naloxone."
Responding to the coroner’s report, Cornell’s widow, Vicky, said in a statement: "Many of us who know Chris well noticed that he wasn't himself during his final hours and that something was very off. We have learned from this report that several substances were found in his system. After so many years of sobriety, this moment of terrible judgment seems to have completely impaired and altered his state of mind.
"Something clearly went terribly wrong and my children and I are heartbroken and are devastated that this moment can never be taken back. We very much appreciate all of the love we have received during this extremely difficult time and are dedicated to helping others in preventing this type of tragedy."
