Vicky Cornell is refusing to accept the autopsy report that says her husband hanged himself in his hotel room just an hour after Soundgarden performed live in Detroit — as seen in these photos from his final show. "He flew home for Mother’s Day to spend time with our family," Vicky said in a statement. "When we spoke before the show, we discussed plans for a vacation over Memorial Day and other things we wanted to do." But, added Vicky's attorney, she was also already worried about medication Chris was taking to beat his drug addiction!
"Chris, a recovering addict, had a prescription for Ativan and may have taken more Ativan than recommended dosages," said lawyer Kirk Pasich, representing Cornell's wife. "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.”
Added Vicky: "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. 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.”
Eyewitnesses at this Detroit show agree that Chris appeared drugged during his final performance at the Fox Theatre. "His vocals definitely felt slowed down," said one local fan, "and he'd forget lyrics and try to get the audience to sing along. We were hoping he was just resting his voice." As reported by The National ENQUIRER, Chris also seemed to end the show on a low note, performing the Led Zeppelin song "In My Time of Dying" — and even his final social media post read: "#Nomorebullsh*t!"