CHRIS CORNELL TOXICOLOGY REPORT MULTIPLE DRUGS IN SYSTEM
12:55 PM PT — Vicky tells us, “Many of us who know Chris well, noticed that he wasn’t himself during his final hours and that something was very off. We have learned from this report that several substances were found in his system. After so many years of sobriety, this moment of terrible judgement seems to have completely impaired and altered his state of mind.”
She added, “Something clearly went terribly wrong and my children and I are heartbroken and are devastated that this moment can never be taken back. We very much appreciate all of the love we have received during this extremely difficult time and are dedicated to helping others in preventing this type of tragedy.”
Chris Cornell had several prescription drugs in his system when he hanged himself in a Detroit hotel room … according to the toxicology report.
According to the report, obtained by TMZ, the singer had Naloxone (Narcan), Butalbital (sedative), Lorazepam (Ativan), Pseudoephedrine (decongestant) and barbiturates in his system at the time of death. It appears Chris had taken 4 (1 mg) Lorazepam tablets.
We broke the story, Vicky claims she was on the phone with Chris a half hour before his death … when he began speaking in tones she hadn’t heard since he was addicted to Oxycontin 14 years ago. She was so alarmed by the slurring and tone she asked Chris’ bodyguard to break his hotel door down.
As we reported, cops observed fresh track marks on Chris’ arm. According to the tox report, he had 4 needle puncture wounds on his left arm, but it appears the marks were from EMTs administering Narcan to counteract an opiate OD.
Family sources tell us Vicky and others are angry the medical examiner “jumped to conclusions” Chris committed suicide. They believe he was so high on drugs he did not really form an intent to kill himself … he was out of his mind when he put the exercise belt around his neck.
In essence, Chris’ family believes this was an accidental death.
Cornell‘s widow issued a statement earlier in the week through the family’s attorney in which she questioned the medical examiner’s conclusion that her husband committed suicide by hanging himself in a hotel room on May 18. In the statement, released on Thursday (June 1), lawyer Kirk Pasich claimed that Vicky Cornell was “mystified that the medical examiner announced a cause of death when the full autopsy report has not been completed.”
The family claimed that it was still not clear on what may have caused Chris to hang himself, a determination the city’s coroner made less than 24 hours after the singer’s body was found by his bodyguard in the early hours of May 18.
Pasich added that the family hoped there would be an end to speculation about the cause of Cornell‘s death.
Vicky Cornell stated: “We are grateful for the outpouring of support as we mourn Chris‘s passing, but we still have several unanswered questions about what led to his death. We believe the toxicology report will answer these questions.”
The family has suggested that the anti-anxiety prescription medication Ativan, which Chris was taking, may have played a role in his demise. He may have taken a higher dosage than usual on the night of his death, with Vicky saying his speech sounded “slurred” during their final phone conversation. The toxicology report appears to show Cornell had ingested four tablets.
“Chris, a recovering addict, had a prescription for Ativan and may have taken more Ativan than recommended dosages,” Pasich said in a statement. “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.”
Chris was laid to rest last Friday (May 26) at the Forever Hollywood cemetery in Los Angeles, attended by bandmates, fellow musicians and actors such as Brad Pitt and Josh Brolin that he had befriended.
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