Cornelius Autopsy Reveals Illness-Related Depression Caused Suicide
When Don Cornelius’ suicide became public, fans worldwide wondered why the “Soul Train” icon would take his own life. Now, his autopsy report reveals that illness pushed Cornelius over the edge, according to TMZ.Since Cornelius suffered an aneurysm in 1997, seizures plagued him in later years. In the final six months of his life, though, the pain of his condition had become debilitating, causing Cornelius to fall in to a deep depression
From the autopsy report, it is stated that Cornelius called his son at 3 a.m., saying, “I don’t know how long I can take this.” TMZ reports:
Don’s son told him he’d rush right over … and Don said he’d leave the back door open. When Don’s son arrived to Cornelius’ Los Angeles home, he detected an odor of smoke and saw Don seated in a chair with a pistol in his right hand.
The autopsy report also reveals that Cornelius pulled the trigger from his left temple and the bullet exited his right temple. Oddly enough, there were also paper bags over his hands:
The decedent was 75-year-old Black male. He was observed supine on a hospital bed in the emergency room. He was covered with a white sheet. He was clad in black pants, black underwear, and a white hospital gown. No tattoos were noted. … His hands were covered with brown paper bags. … I found what appears to be a bullet entrance contact wound to the right temple. I saw what appears to be an exit wound to the upper left side of his head. No other trauma was noted.
View the rest of the autopsy report here.
R.I.P., Mr. Cornelius.
Source
When he died I made a post about the black communities reaction to his suicide here.