Don Cornelius Autopsy Report: Seizures Plagued Soul Train Legend Before Shocking Suicide

Newly released report indicates the late music icon had been suffering from seizures months before taking his own life

By Josh Grossberg Apr 24, 2012 7:57 PMTags
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New information has come to light about the final moments in the life of Don Cornelius.

E! News has obtained the graphic autopsy results on the Soul Train legend, who died back in February at the age of 75.

The documents reaffirm the coroner's ruling issued then: the cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head which entered through the right temple.

The autopsy report states that Cornelius had suffered an aneurysm about 15 years ago which caused him to develop seizures and "as time went on the decedent's health continued to decline regardless of his medication."

It notes that on Feb. 1 at approximately 3 a.m., the 75-year-old Soul Train host phoned his son and said, "I don't know how long I can take this." Moments later, Cornelius apparently pulled the trigger.

His son later told investigators, "[I] found the back door open and detected the odor of smoke...then found [the elder Cornelius] unresponsive on a chair. 911 was dialed."

The report, which includes vivid depictions of Don Cornelius' wounds, reveals that he had been "very depressed about his failing health" for the past six months.

After paramedics failed to revive him with CPR, the impresario was pronounced dead at 4:56 a.m.

No suicide note was found and no foul play was suspected.

—Reporting by Baker Machado

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