Overdose suspected in death of rocker

Rock musician Chris Cornell’s wife has disputed ‘‘inferences’’ that he killed himself in a Detroit hotel room, saying he may have taken more of an anti-anxiety drug than he was prescribed.

The Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office has said the lead singer in Soundgarden and Audioslave hanged himself. But Cornell’s family said yesterday that without toxicology test results, they did not know what caused his death.

An official said it could be several days before the results of a full autopsy and toxicology tests were completed and released.

Cornell, 52, was found unresponsive in his hotel room several hours after he performed at a Soundgarden concert.

According to the Detroit News ,a police report says Cornell’s bodyguard gave him two prescription pills for anxiety after the concert. The bodyguard later found Cornell on the bathroom floor of his room with an exercise band around his neck, the newspaper reported.

Vicky Cornell, Cornell’s wife, said that when she spoke with her husband after the Detroit show, he told her he may have taken ‘‘an extra Ativan or two’’. Lawyer Kirk Pasich said the musician had a prescription for the anti-anxiety drug. Ativan, a sedative, has side effects that can include drowsiness and dizziness.

‘‘Chris, a recovering addict, had a prescription for Ativan and may have taken more Ativan than recommended dosages,’’ Pasich said.

‘‘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.’’

Vicky Cornell said her husband slurred his words when she spoke with him after the Detroit show. He was ‘‘different’’, and she contacted security to check on him.

‘‘What happened is inexplicable, and I am hopeful that further medical reports will provide additional details,’’ she said.

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REUTERS Chris Cornell’s wife says he may have taken too much of an anti-anxiety drug he had been prescribed.