Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain killed himself at age 27 with a shotgun , a Seattle police investigation concluded , and nothing has changed about that assessment 20 years after his death . But as the anniversary of Cobain 's passing approaches early next month , rumors have stirred on social media that police might be reopening the case . They are not , they said in a statement . But they released new photos of the crime scene . The photos do not include images of Cobain 's body . But the dingy , scratched images of syringes , a tainted spoon , a lighter and other personal belongings strewn across the floor will likely bring back sad memories for many fans . Immortal attachment . The attachment to the singer-songwriter , who was as much the front man of an evocative musical movement as he was of the band Nirvana , lives on . As apparently do theories of how the icon may have died . They include murder combined with rumors of personal entanglements . Some fans seem unwilling to believe that Cobain , whose name was synonymous with the movement called Grunge that transformed rock , fled into the arms of death to escape the torments of depression and drug abuse in 1994 . Then news on Thursday that a cold-case detective was reviewing Cobain 's file triggered a storm of digital chatter . But Mike Ciesenski was merely re-reading Cobain 's materials , just in case . `` We knew with the 20th anniversary coming up and we knew there was going to be a lot of media interest , '' he said . He also watched screened documentaries and read articles on the conspiracy theories . `` I can see why people have questions , '' Ciesenski said . `` But you can always point to something and say 'what if . ' '' Grungy photos . While reviewing the file , the detective , who usually searches archives for loose ends , found one -- four rolls of film taken at Cobain 's house that had never been developed . Twenty years ago , police found no reason process them , since they had Polaroid snaps of the place where Cobain perished . Police had the 35 mm film developed , but the images are not new evidence . They just want to make them accessible to the public . Fear of stoking conspiracy theories kept them from doing it earlier , Ciesenski said . `` Sometimes people believe what they read—some of the disinformation from some of the books , that this was a conspiracy . That 's completely inaccurate , '' he said . `` It 's a suicide . This is a closed case . '' Many music legends died at the same young age of 27 . They include Jim Morrison , Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin . It takes many people a long time to let go of an artist who touched their hearts so strongly through their ears . Haunting voice . Cobain 's voice was as innovative Nirvana 's interpretation of rock and in step with it . His velvety yet scratchy vocals continue in recordings to carry social disappointment and cynical ire in flats and sharps , all energized by fast-beat , electrified rock . Just as it did then , when music fans first took note of it on Nirvana 's breakthrough album `` Nevermind '' in 1991 -- with its shocking album cover of a baby swimming naked underwater after a dollar bill on a fish hook . Cobain 's death ended a battle with hard drugs . His ashes were reportedly scattered in a Washington state river and a New York Buddhist temple . Nirvana band mates Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl eventually formed other bands . Cobain 's widow , Courtney Love , stayed in the limelight with an acting career and legal problems surrounding her own drug problems . Frances Bean , the couple 's daughter , has largely lived outside the public eye . What was unclear when Cobain died was whether the music Nirvana created would endure or fade away . If it does fade , it may remain immortalized in one place -- Cobain 's hometown of Aberdeen , Washington . There visitors are greeted with a sign that reads -- in his honor -- `` Come As You Are . ''
Conspiracy theories haunt the Nirvana front man 's death nearly 20 years ago . Police release new photos , but they are not new evidence . `` Mr. Cobain is still deceased and the case is still a suicide , '' detective says . A cold-case detective only reviewed Cobain file to prep for 20th anniversary interviews .