In October 1995, nearly a year and a half after the death of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, his widow Courtney Love made a formal request to the Seattle Police Department for exclusive possession of all investigative files related to his death. The request, submitted by Love’s attorney Bryan Coluccio to then-Seattle Chief of Police Norm Stamper, sought to have the entire case file transferred to Love’s custody, with no copies retained by the department. Authorities had officially ruled Cobain’s death, which occurred on April 5, 1994, as a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the couple’s Seattle home, a conclusion Love had reportedly accepted.
Details of the 1995 Request
The letter from Coluccio, dated October 20, 1995, explicitly stated the desire for the Seattle Police Department to deliver the complete investigation file to him. Crucially, the request stipulated that no further records or copies should remain with the police. Coluccio’s correspondence aimed to assure the department that Cobain’s estate and Love-Cobain were satisfied with the thoroughness of the police investigation and accepted the final determination of suicide, indicating a desire to formally close the matter.
The case file reportedly contained sensitive materials, including personal letters from Cobain, documents with private financial details, and undeveloped photographic film. The attorney cited concerns that individuals were attempting to profit from materials related to Cobain’s death as a primary motivation for seeking sole custody of the official records. The request concluded with a polite expression of gratitude for an anticipated favorable response.
Police Department’s Response and Criticism
The Seattle Police Department ultimately denied Courtney
