Rocker wife sounds off
Cornell suicide blamed on anti-anxiety Rx
The family of rock star Chris Cornell is “disturbed” by “inferences that Chris knowingly and intentionally” killed himself, suggesting on Friday that side effects from a prescribed anti-anxiety drug may have played a role in his suicide.
Through a lawyer, the family of the Soundgarden singer said that without toxicology tests, it can’t be certain what led to his death in a Detroit hotel room Wednesday or if any other substances were involved.
The Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office concluded Thursday that Cornell, 52, killed himself by hanging but said a full autopsy report had not been completed.
Lawyer Kirk Pasich said Cornell, a recovering addict, had a prescription for Ativan, which he said has a range of side effects, including suicidal thoughts.
Cornell’s wife of 13 years, Vicky Karayiannis, said in the statement that her husband was slurring his words when she spoke to him by phone after his performance with Soundgarden at the Fox Theatre in the Motor City and told her “he may have took an extra Ativan or two.”
A panicked Karayiannis said she then contacted a security guard to check on Cornell at the MGM Grand Detroit. Cornell was found dead on the bathroom floor. He used a red exercise band and a carabiner — a clip typically used for rock climbing — to kill himself, TMZ reported.
“Chris’ death is a loss that escapes words and has created an emptiness in my heart that will never be filled,” Karayiannis said in a statement. “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 added that Cornell, a father of three, spent time with his children before flying to Detroit Wednesday and the couple even spoke before the show about plans for an upcoming vacation over Memorial Day weekend.
“What happened is inexplicable,” Karayiannis said.