An autopsy has failed to determine how a world famous musician from Iowa died Monday in an Urbandale hotel. Urbandale Police Sergeant Dave Disney says the autopsy on 38-year-old Paul Gray, bass player for the band Slipknot, only confirmed there was no foul play or signs of trauma. The Polk County Medical Examiner is still conducting toxicology tests.
Disney says results of those tests could take four to six weeks to complete. Gray was found dead in his hotel room after a relative called the hotel and asked staff to check on him because they could not reach him by phone.
Disney refused to disclose what evidence was taken from the hotel room. “We’re just not at a point in the investigation to start disclosing the things that were inside the room or placements of items,” Disney said. “We really need the toxicology results before we make statements about that.” Gray had a long battle with drug abuse. He was charged with possession of marijuana and cocaine in June 2003 after being involved in a traffic crash in Des Moines.
Disney says Gray and his wife, who’s pregnant, had an argument and Gray was staying at the hotel. “For several reasons, he had a desire to have some alone time, so he had been at the hotel for a couple days,” Disney said. Gray co-founded the metal band Slipknot in 1995. The group has sold millions of albums, toured around the world and won a Grammy in 2006.
Disney says he’s received dozens of interview requests – including a call from Rolling Stone Magazine. “I had a call from the BBC in London…France, Los Angeles…it just goes on,” Disney told Radio Iowa.
Slipknot’s second album, titled “Iowa,” sold over a-quarter-million copies in its first week. It debuted at number one in both the United Kingdom and Canada.