New Forensics Suggest Kurt Cobain's Death Was Homicide, Not Suicide

Private experts believe the Nirvana frontman's 1994 passing may not have been self-inflicted after all.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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More than 30 years after Kurt Cobain's death was ruled a suicide, a private forensics team has reviewed the evidence and concluded that the Nirvana frontman's passing may have actually been a homicide. The team, led by expert Brian Burnett, cited a lack of blood splatter on Cobain's hands and the organized state of the heroin syringes as signs that the scene was staged, rather than the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Why it matters

Cobain's 1994 death at age 27 was a seismic moment in music history, leaving a gaping hole in the grunge scene he helped pioneer. If new evidence suggests his passing was not a suicide, it could reignite a decades-old conspiracy theory and force authorities to reopen the case, potentially shedding new light on one of the most tragic musical deaths of the 20th century.

The details

According to the Daily Mail, forensic specialist Brian Burnett spent just three days reviewing the evidence before concluding that "This is a homicide. We've got to do something about this." Burnett and his team pointed to a lack of blood splatter on Cobain's hands and the capped, organized state of the heroin syringes as signs that the scene was staged, rather than the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

  • Kurt Cobain's body was found in his apartment in April 1994.
  • His death was ruled a suicide at the time.

The players

Kurt Cobain

The lead vocalist and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana, whose 1994 death at age 27 was ruled a suicide.

Brian Burnett

A forensic specialist who recently reviewed the evidence in Cobain's death and concluded that it was likely a homicide, not a suicide.

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What they’re saying

“This is a homicide. We've got to do something about this.”

— Brian Burnett, Forensic Specialist (Daily Mail)

What’s next

Burnett and his team hope their findings will be enough to reopen the investigation into Cobain's death, over 30 years after the fact.

The takeaway

The possibility that Kurt Cobain's death was not a suicide, as previously believed, could force authorities to take a fresh look at one of the most tragic and iconic musical deaths of the 20th century. If the new forensic evidence holds up, it could reignite a decades-old conspiracy theory and provide closure for Cobain's fans and loved ones.