Vicky Cornell, the wife of Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell, issued a statement Friday morning where she speculated whether her late husband’s suicide was the result of taking too much of his anxiety medication.
“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,” Vicky wrote.
“His world revolved around his family first and, of course, his music second. 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.”
Following Soundgarden’s concert Wednesday night, Vicky noticed a change in her husband’s demeanor when they spoke on the phone after the show.
“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 continued. “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.”
Chris died Thursday morning at the age of 52. The Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office said Cornell hanged himself Wednesday after performing at a concert. But Cornell’s family said that without toxicology test results completed, they don’t know what caused his death.
