In a move that might put some conspiracy theories to rest, the FBI has quietly released its archived records on late Nirvana legend Kurt Cobain.
For reasons unknown, the FBI released its file on Cobain last month, making the documents available to the public for the very first time, Rolling Stone reports.
The file is slim, however, and consists of just 10 pages. As RS points out, the centrepieces are two letters — sent from names that have been redacted — urging the FBI to investigate Cobain's 1994 death as a murder rather than suicide.
"Millions of fans around the world would like to see the inconsistencies surrounding his death cleared up once and for all," reads one of the typed-out letters, dated September 2003. It also points to director Nick Broomfield's controversial Kurt & Courtney documentary as an example of skepticism surrounding Cobain's death.
The other letter — which again has blocked out the author's name — is dated from 2007. It reads in part, "The police who took up the case were never very serious in investigating it as a murder but from the beginning insisted on it being a suicide. This bothers me the most because his killer is still out there."
It goes on to cite apparent evidence, stating "there were no prints on the gun he supposedly shot himself with" and claiming Cobain "mentioned nothing about wanting to die except for the part of it that was in another handwriting and appeared to be added at the end."
In addition to the two letters, the file contains several responses that the FBI sent back to concerned individuals, telling them that the Bureau does not necessarily have the jurisdiction to investigate a potential homicide.
"We appreciate your concern that Mr. Cobain may have been the victim of a homicide," the FBI responses read. "In order for the FBI to initiate an investigation of any complaint we receive, specific facts must be present to indicate that a violation of federal law within our investigative jurisdiction has occurred."
As such, the FBI explained that it would not be investigating Cobain's death.
Beyond that, the file on Cobain closes with a fax that Cosgrove/Meurer Productions sent to the FBI in January 1997. CMP — which is the company behind the documentary series Unsolved Mysteries — aired an episode about the musician's death in February 1997.
The fax reads, "At least one investigator, Tom Grant, a Los Angeles based private investigator and former L.A. County Sheriff's deputy, is convinced that the official ruling of suicide was a rush to judgment."
Of the 1997 request, CMP co-founder Terry Meurer told Rolling Stone, "We reach out to the FBI for various stories and try to get information on them. We still do that — we were just talking to the FBI yesterday about a request. We're in constant contact with them. So that was a typical communication."
As to why the FBI decided to now release the file on Cobain is unclear, but the move is often common practice for the Bureau. It's also safe to assume it has nothing to do with that creepy Kurt Cobain hair auction.
For reasons unknown, the FBI released its file on Cobain last month, making the documents available to the public for the very first time, Rolling Stone reports.
The file is slim, however, and consists of just 10 pages. As RS points out, the centrepieces are two letters — sent from names that have been redacted — urging the FBI to investigate Cobain's 1994 death as a murder rather than suicide.
"Millions of fans around the world would like to see the inconsistencies surrounding his death cleared up once and for all," reads one of the typed-out letters, dated September 2003. It also points to director Nick Broomfield's controversial Kurt & Courtney documentary as an example of skepticism surrounding Cobain's death.
The other letter — which again has blocked out the author's name — is dated from 2007. It reads in part, "The police who took up the case were never very serious in investigating it as a murder but from the beginning insisted on it being a suicide. This bothers me the most because his killer is still out there."
It goes on to cite apparent evidence, stating "there were no prints on the gun he supposedly shot himself with" and claiming Cobain "mentioned nothing about wanting to die except for the part of it that was in another handwriting and appeared to be added at the end."
In addition to the two letters, the file contains several responses that the FBI sent back to concerned individuals, telling them that the Bureau does not necessarily have the jurisdiction to investigate a potential homicide.
"We appreciate your concern that Mr. Cobain may have been the victim of a homicide," the FBI responses read. "In order for the FBI to initiate an investigation of any complaint we receive, specific facts must be present to indicate that a violation of federal law within our investigative jurisdiction has occurred."
As such, the FBI explained that it would not be investigating Cobain's death.
Beyond that, the file on Cobain closes with a fax that Cosgrove/Meurer Productions sent to the FBI in January 1997. CMP — which is the company behind the documentary series Unsolved Mysteries — aired an episode about the musician's death in February 1997.
The fax reads, "At least one investigator, Tom Grant, a Los Angeles based private investigator and former L.A. County Sheriff's deputy, is convinced that the official ruling of suicide was a rush to judgment."
Of the 1997 request, CMP co-founder Terry Meurer told Rolling Stone, "We reach out to the FBI for various stories and try to get information on them. We still do that — we were just talking to the FBI yesterday about a request. We're in constant contact with them. So that was a typical communication."
As to why the FBI decided to now release the file on Cobain is unclear, but the move is often common practice for the Bureau. It's also safe to assume it has nothing to do with that creepy Kurt Cobain hair auction.
