Chris Cornell’s Wife Vicky Karayiannis Knew Something Was Wrong Before Suicide: Report

Vicky Karayiannis, the wife of late Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell, knew something was wrong with the rocker the last time they spoke, TMZ wrote in an exclusive report Friday. His actions harkened back to darker days 14 year ago when he was addicted to prescription medicine. He died at the age of 52.

Karayiannis was the last person to speak to Cornell before he committed suicide last week. He called her 30 minutes before killing himself in a Detroit hotel room. During the conversation, he flicked to lights in their home on and off. He was able to control them through his phone, TMZ noted. The strange part is when Karayiannis asked if he was changing the lights he said no, and that he had done it an hour before.

READ: Chris Cornell’s Wife Vicky Karayiannis Pens Touching Letter To Her Late Husband

She was confused by his statement because he was onstage an hour before he called her. Cornell started to slur his words and slam his crew. “They f---ed up again,” the rocker supposedly said. “They had three days to fix my in-ears and I was getting static. I couldn't hear.”

Cornell soon started to complain about his voice, repeating that he “blew” it. The singer then tried to change the topic to something that didn’t make sense and his wife grew even more concerned.

She immediately suspected drugs. “I need to know what you took tonight. You don't sound right, sweetheart,” Karayiannis said. He replied, “I was really angry and I just took two Ativan. I'm really pissed and I had to calm myself down.”

But Cornell’s wife didn’t believe him. “I need to know what you took. It doesn't sound like two Ativan. It sounds like you took something else. You need to tell me now what you took. I forgive you.”

When his tone changed toward being “cocky and aggressive,” she remembered when he nearly died after abusing OxyContin 14 years ago. She quickly hung up the phone and called Cornell’s bodyguard.

He tried to kick down the door, but was unable to budge it, so Karayiannis called the hotel with a second phone to have them open it up. She screamed, “He’s having a heart attack.”

The bodyguard was finally able to kick down the door. He found Cornell’s body hanging from an exercise band. Karayiannis was still on the phone. She said it took 30 minutes from when she hung up with her husband to when the body guard found his body.

READ: Chris Cornell Death: Fresh Track Marks On Arm

Police reportedly saw fresh track marks on Cornell’s arm, but Karayiannis was skeptical. The claimed he never used needles and she didn’t see any marks on his arm the last time he wore a T-shirt.

In a letter to her late husband, Karayiannis promised to fight for the Audioslave frontman.

“I’m broken, but I will stand up for you and I will take care of our beautiful babies,” she penned. “I will think of you every minute of every day and I will fight for you. You were right when you said we are soulmates. It has been said that paths that have crossed will cross again, and I know that you will come find me, and I will be here waiting.”

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