Cornell’s widow pours out her grief in open letter

LOS ANGELES — The widow of Chris Cornell widow has written a letter addressed to the Soundgarden frontman days after he took his own life.

In the note, published online by Billboard, Vicky Cornell writes that she is sorry she didn’t “see what happened to you that night.” Cornell was pronounced dead on May 18 after being found unresponsive in his Detroit hotel room.

“I’m sorry you were alone, and I know that was not you, my sweet Christopher. Your children know that too, so you can rest in peace,” Vicky Cornell wrote.

The Wayne County medical examiner’s office said 52-year-old Cornell hanged himself. A full autopsy and results of toxicology tests are pending. His wife has said the singer might have taken more of an anti-anxiety drug than he was prescribed.

“I’m broken, but I will stand up for you and I will take care of our beautiful babies. I will think of you every minute of every day and I will fight for you,” Vicky Cornell wrote. “You were right when you said we are soulmates. It has been said that paths that have crossed will cross again, and I know that you will come find me, and I will be here waiting.”

Cornell’s funeral takes place today in the form of a private service at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles. His body was taken to Los Angeles this week.

Cornell was a leader of the grunge movement with Seattlebased Soundgarden, with whom he gained critical and commercial acclaim. He also found success outside the band with other projects, including Audioslave and Temple of the Dog as well as solo albums.