Mortifying news Thursday afternoon as TMZ is reporting that Linkin Park‘s Chester Bennington has committed suicide by hanging. He was 41.
Law enforcement sources told the site that the singer hanged himself at a private residence in Palos Verdes Estates in L.A. County. His body was discovered Thursday just before 9 AM.
Chester was married with 6 children from 2 wives.
The singer struggled with drugs and alcohol for years, according to TMZ. He had said in the past he had considered committing suicide because he had been abused as a child by an older male.
This news is particularly upsetting as Chester was very close with Chris Cornell, who himself committed suicide by hanging in May. Today would have been Cornell’s 53rd birthday. Chester wrote an open letter to Chris on the day of Chris’ suicide.
While Bennington was known as the frontman of Linkin Park, he also appeared in Lionsgate’s Saw 3D, making him part of our horror family. This news hits extra close to home as I was the friend in my circle to discover Linkin Park prior to the release of their debut album, Hybrid Theory, in 2000. The album is part of what shaped me and millions of others. He will be dearly missed as we send our prayers and blessings to his friends and family.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
