a death

December 31, 2003 3:20 PM

Elliot Smith : Murdered. Some may say.
posted by the fire you left me (17 comments total)

Who's saying this? All your links say that the autopsy was inconclusive, and the coroner can't say for sure if it was a suicide or not. Do you have any links suggesting that he was murdered?
posted by Vidiot at 3:37 PM on December 31, 2003

I agree. Yeah, it raises some eyebrows to read that there were two stab wounds (I seem to recall all the press at the time reporting only one), and it's interesting that there were no drugs found in his system, but for now it's an open investigation; though it could turn into a murder investigation given more evidence, etc., it doesn't mean that anyone has so far publicly suggested a plausible homicide scenario.
posted by scody at 3:43 PM on December 31, 2003

On the various Elliott-centric message boards, there's been Scooby-gang-esque buzz about the possibility of foul play since the beginning. Wishful thinking, perhaps? There was quite a bit of posting from someone who apparently rented studio space in his building -- I can't find the original thread, but there's summary and a pasted version of it here. Whatever the outcome... it may comfort his family and friends, but at the end of the day, he's still gone. Sad.
posted by kittyb at 3:48 PM on December 31, 2003

Hah! The BBC can't spell Elliott Smith's name.
posted by Utilitaritron at 3:49 PM on December 31, 2003

As Vidiot points out, nobody in the links posted seems to suggest that Smith was murdered--only that they can't definitively rule it out.

In other news, there are still 78,976 World War II American soldiers Missing In Action. You know, because they can't prove they're dead.
posted by Sidhedevil at 3:52 PM on December 31, 2003

Not to be crass, but I've been wondering about the logistics of stabbing one's own self twice in the chest. Do you hold the knife and run against a wall or something? I'm not saying it's murder, just that it's weird and should be looked into.
posted by elwoodwiles at 3:58 PM on December 31, 2003

Hmm, I live in Portland, Smith's former hometown and have met a few people who actually knew him. One who knew him quite well was a guy who used to be in My Life with the Thrill Kill Cult. Anyway he said Smith killed himself becuase he was fighting with his girlfriend and basicly said, "If you leave me I'm going to kill myself" and she blew him off.

dunno why I'm writing this, but since the whole Elliot Smith death is kinda gossipy anyway....
posted by efalk at 4:39 PM on December 31, 2003

Oh yeah, I'm sure someone killed Elliot Smith. Probably the same bastard who murdered Ian Curtis, Kurt Cobain, and Michael Hutchence.
posted by Jimbob at 5:31 PM on December 31, 2003

As Vidiot points out, nobody in the links posted seems to suggest that Smith was murdered--only that they can't definitively rule it out.

Well, let's see here -- the report does not rule the death a suicide, and does not rule the death accidental. What conclusion are we supposed to draw, exactly? This seems to send a pretty clear message to the LAPD to investigate the possibility of foul play.

Probably the same bastard who murdered Ian Curtis, Kurt Cobain, and Michael Hutchence.

Surely the differences between those cases and Smith's should be readily apparent. I should think "stab wound to the chest" is much more common among homicides than among suicides, while the reverse would be true of hangings and point-blank shotgun blasts to the head.
posted by jjg at 6:21 PM on December 31, 2003

...he was fighting with his girlfriend and basicly said, "If you leave me I'm going to kill myself" and she blew him off.
Somebody should've told him he wouldn't have been the first to break that promise.

I should think "stab wound to the chest" is much more common among homicides than among suicides, while the reverse would be true of hangings...
That's what the people who want it to look like a suicide specialize in...
...and point-blank shotgun blasts to the head.
Except for people with very short arms.

Hey, maybe Phil Spector did it...
'tis the season to be snarky
posted by wendell at 6:34 PM on December 31, 2003

Professor Plum did it in the conservatory with a lead pipe....

(What wendell said)
posted by Eekacat at 6:45 PM on December 31, 2003

I should think "stab wound to the chest" is much more common among homicides than among suicides...with the stabbing, and the thrusting, and the bleeding...glaven.
posted by adamgreenfield at 7:39 AM on January 1, 2004

If only Connor Oberst would follow suit.
posted by Satapher at 4:04 PM on January 1, 2004

Has anyone questioned Courtney Love?
posted by jed at 5:04 PM on January 1, 2004

Not to be crass, but I've been wondering about the logistics of stabbing one's own self twice in the chest.

I wonder about the logistics of doing it without any drugs or alochol in your system, as the reports indicate. When this happened, I assumed he had fallen off the wagon and offed himself in a Sid Vicious-esque "I was so fucked up I don't remember killing Nancy" stupor. To stab yourself twice while stone cold sober is completely bizarre.
posted by jpoulos at 7:49 AM on January 2, 2004

What does Richard Lee have to say about this?
posted by psmealey at 9:15 AM on January 2, 2004

Haha... I interviewed Richard Lee way back in the day. That guy is a nut!
posted by ph00dz at 10:38 AM on January 2, 2004