Vicky Cornell, the wife of the late Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell, has issued a detailed statement following her husband’s death in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Vicky described Chris as a “devoted husband and husband” and said that they had been planning a family holiday with their three children when Chris took his life.
“Chris’s death is a loss that escapes words and has created an emptiness in my heart that will never be filled,” Vicky said. “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. 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.”
“We discussed plans for a vacation over Memorial Day and other things we wanted to do,” she said. “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.”
Vicky went on to say the family is in shock and did not see this coming. “What happened is inexplicable and I am hopeful that further medical reports will provide additional details,” she concludes. “I know that he loved our children and he would not hurt them by intentionally taking his own life. The outpouring of love and support from his fans, friends and family means so much more to us than anyone can know.”
Toxicology reports are yet to be released to prove the Ativan theory.
Kirk Pasich, an attorney for the Cornell family added, “”Chris, a recovering addict, had a prescription for Ativan and may have taken more Ativan than recommended dosages. 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 thanks fans for their kind words. “Thank you for that,” she added, “and for understanding how difficult this is for us.”
