What Was Found At Kurt Cobain's Death Scene
The tragic saga of the late Kurt Cobain is something of a contemporary fable amongst music lovers. The iconic grunge forefather and founding member of Nirvana was once called "the voice of a generation," and today, nearly 30 years after his untimely death by suicide, the musician is still remembered for his titanic contributions to the world of culture and song. "If you die you're completely happy and your soul somewhere lives on. I'm not afraid of dying," he once said (via American Songwriter). "Total peace after death, becoming someone else is the best hope I've got." One can only hope that his internal premonition came to fruition and that he found tranquility upon his departure from this world.
Most of us are at least a little bit familiar with Cobain's story and the colossal legacy he left behind. Before his death, the frontman appeared on nearly 400 stages worldwide (per setlist.fm), and in 2014, his estate was estimated to be worth some $450 million dollars, as CNBC reports. It's been a long time since the world was forced to say goodbye to Kurt Cobain, but the details of what authorities found at his Seattle residence after his death on April 5, 1994, still sting the psyche of all who loved him — family, friends, and fans alike.
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Cobain's death on April 5, 1994
According to USA Today, Kurt Cobain's body wasn't found until three whole days after his death. As History reports, a maintenance worker who was inspecting his property to perform some lighting repairs happened upon the singer's corpse unexpectedly before contacting Seattle police. On April 4, the singer's widow Courtney Love (frontwoman for the band Hole) filed a missing person's report after she grew concerned for her husband's well-being.
Love reportedly told authorities that Kurt was potentially suicidal and might have a gun at his disposal, but for some reason, his own home wasn't inspected, causing a delay that very well could have saved his life. By the time the electrician discovered Cobain's body, it was already too late. The "Lithium" singer had taken his own life with a 20-gauge shotgun that was found on the scene alongside a suicide note and a series of other things that investigators used to shine a light on the harrowing moments leading up to his death (per History).
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
What else was found at the death scene?
"Thank you all from the pit of my burning, nauseous stomach for your letters and concern during the past years," Kurt Cobain wrote near the end of his heart-wrenching suicide note. "I'm too much of an erratic, moody baby! I don't have the passion anymore, and so remember, it's better to burn out than to fade away." In 2014, a series of photographs taken at the scene were released that depicted disturbing details discovered near his body. According to USA Today, a cigar box full of syringes and a spoon (presumably used for heroin injection) along with half a cigarette and a pair of sunglasses were found nearby.
A pack of cigarettes, Cobain's wallet, his ID card, and some cash were also discovered alongside the cigar box. When the electrician found him, Cobain was dead in the greenhouse adjacent to his home. It was later discovered that he also injected a lethal dose of heroin before pulling the trigger (via USA Today).
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Kurt Cobain's history of suicide
Unbeknownst to some, Kurt Cobain actually made several attempts on his life before April 5 of '94. While in Rome just a few months before his death, he reportedly took a handful of tranquilizers that were intended to kill him. He also entered a hospital with a firearm and threatened to kill himself after learning that the state was concerned for his daughter, Frances Bean Cobain, because of their rampant drug use, as USA Today reports.
In a 2021 issue of The New Yorker, journalist Michael Azerrad reflected upon his correspondence with Kurt Cobain decades earlier and learned how two of his great uncles actually took their own lives with firearms as well. Another distant relative, one Florence Cobain, reportedly tried to kill herself in 1913, over half a century before the Nirvana frontman ever walked the earth or commanded a stage. "He made suicide attempts long before Courtney even came into the picture," "Heavier than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain" author Charles R. Cross told USA Today. "There were also the reckless drug overdoses, of which there were many; they show a reckless disregard for living. Maybe Kurt never had a chance."
There are certain things we'll never know about Kurt Cobain's reasons for taking his own life, but what we do know is that within just a short window of time, he managed to leave an eternal mark on the world around him.
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255).