Courtney Love, the widow of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, once requested that the Seattle Police Department turn over the entire investigation file pertaining to her husband's death, according to documents discovered by researchers. The request was made in October 1995 by Love's lawyer, Bryan Coluccio, who sought to have all records delivered to him with no copies remaining with the department.
At the time, investigators had already ruled Cobain's death a suicide, a conclusion with which Love concurred. The lawyer's letter stated that Cobain's estate and Love were satisfied with the Seattle Police Department's investigation and accepted its final determination that the death was a suicide. The letter also noted that "several persons" had attempted to profit from selling materials related to Cobain's death and that the estate wished to prevent this. The file reportedly contained undeveloped film, photographs, personal letters, and financial information.
The Seattle Police Department did not comply with the request. Retired Seattle police Capt. Neil Low, who had previously audited the case, called the demand "totally absurd," emphasizing that official police records must remain with the department for accountability and public record compliance. Michelle Wilkins, leading the "Who Killed Kurt?" investigative group, also criticized the demand, arguing that removing investigative materials from police custody hinders scrutiny and the pursuit of truth.
This revelation follows earlier reports in May that Love had also sought the destruction of crime scene photos. A 1995 internal memo from Detective Sgt. Don Cameron indicated that Love expressed concerns about potential leaks of these photos. Cameron reportedly denied this request, deeming it unprofessional.
In 2014, the Seattle Police Department released 37 images from the death scene following a cold-case review that reaffirmed the suicide ruling. These images included exterior shots of the home and greenhouse where Cobain was found, as well as some that showed parts of his body. Cobain, the lead singer of Nirvana, died by suicide in 1994 at the age of 27.
Despite the official suicide ruling and the support for it from Love and other family members, a team of forensic experts associated with "Who Killed Kurt?" has presented a paper suggesting Cobain was administered a heroin overdose and then shot to stage a suicide. The Seattle Police Department has stated it will not reopen the investigation, standing by its previous findings.