Courtney Love asked Seattle police officials in October 1995 to hand over the complete investigation file detailing the death of her late husband Kurt Cobain and leave no copies behind. Paperwork submitted to then-Seattle Chief of Police Norm Stamper on October 20, 1995 requested sole possession of all information held by the agency, according to documents obtained by investigative organization Who Killed Kurt? and reported Monday by the New York Post. Love, a 62-year-old San Francisco native and Hole singer, was married to the grunge icon from February 24, 1992 until his death on April 5, 1994.
Authorities stated that Cobain's death was the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at their Seattle home. The investigative organization Who Killed Kurt? believes the case surrounding the Nirvana singer should be re-examined amid concerns that it had been a homicide. The group obtained the letter penned by Love's attorney Bryan Coluccio to Stamper about a year-and-a-half after Cobain died.
The Daily Mail reached out to the Seattle Police Department, Coluccio's office and representatives for Love for comment, but has yet to hear back. In the document obtained by the outlet, Coluccio wrote, "This letter is to request that the complete investigation file of the Seattle Police Department pertaining to Mr. Cobain's death be delivered to me, with no further records or copies to remain with the Department."
Contents of the 1995 Police File Request
Coluccio wrote in the document, "I confirm on behalf of Mr. Cobain's estate and Ms. Love-Cobain that they are satisfied that the Seattle Police Department performed a complete and thorough investigation into Mr. Cobain's death." The attorney stated in the letter that Love accepted "without any reservation, the Department's final determination that Mr. Cobain's death was a suicide," and that "the matter can be closed."
According to the letter, items included in the case file were "personal letters" penned by the late vocalist, documents containing "personal and private" details including finances, and Polaroid photos alongside undeveloped rolls of 35mm still film. Coluccio noted in the letter that "several persons" had attempted to profit from "sale and distribution of material pertaining to Mr. Cobain's death," spurring the official request from Love's camp.
Coluccio ended the letter by stating, "Thank you in advance for your favorable response to this request," which was ultimately denied by the police department. The request drew criticism from multiple people, including former Seattle police Capt. Neil Low, who initially concurred with the suicide ruling but later said he believed Cobain's death was the result of a homicide.
Criticism from Former Police and Investigators
Low told the New York Post on Monday that the "request that the SPD give his client all of the police records related to the Cobain investigation is totally absurd." Low added, "As an 'officer of the court,' you would expect Mr. Coluccio to know that police agencies are required to document all of their official business and correspondence as a matter of public record."
Low stated that police would be violating basic statutes of "public record compliance" and "accountability" if they had agreed to the request. Archive photos from the period depict Cobain, Love and their daughter Frances Bean Cobain together in Los Angeles in 1993, while separate photos capture Love pictured in 2022 and Cobain pictured in New York City in 1993.
Michelle Wilkins of Who Killed Kurt? told the outlet that "every cold case lives or dies on the evidence that's preserved." Wilkins said that "when lawyers are demanding investigative materials be removed from police custody, it doesn't protect the pursuit of truth," but "makes future scrutiny far more difficult."
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available by calling or texting 988 or chatting at 988lifeline.org.
