 After a decade of battling drug addiction , Layne Staley was found dead in his condominium on April 19 , 2002 , two weeks after his actual death . His mother and stepfather became alarmed when accountants noticed that money was no longer being withdrawn from his accounts . With assistance from the police , they broke into his condo and made the discovery . An autopsy revealed Staley had died from a mixture of heroin and cocaine . His friends speculate that in addition to drugs , he may have contracted an illness that his body could not fight off , due to a compromised immune system . In his last interview , given months before his death , Staley admitted , " I know I 'm near death , I did crack and heroin for years . I never wanted to end my life this way . " Cantrell dedicated his 2002 solo album , released two months after Staley 's death , to his memory . 
 After a decade of battling drug addiction , Layne Staley was found dead in his condominium on April 19 , 2002 , two weeks after his actual death . His mother and stepfather became alarmed when accountants noticed that money was no longer being withdrawn from his accounts . With assistance from the police , they broke into his condo and made the discovery . An autopsy revealed Staley <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>had</mark></a> died from a mixture of heroin and cocaine . His friends speculate that in addition to drugs , he may <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>have</mark></a> contracted an illness <a href='null_relcl' title='3'><mark>that</mark></a>his body could not fight off , due to a compromised immune system . In his last interview , given months before his death , Staley admitted , " I know I 'm near death , I did crack and heroin for years . I never wanted to end my life this way . " Cantrell dedicated his 2002 solo album , released two months after Staley <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>death , to his memory . 
After a decade of battling drug addiction , Layne Staley was found dead in his condominium on April 19 , 2002 , 2 weeks after his actual death . His mother and stepfather became alarmed when accountants noticed dat paper was no longer being withdrawn from his accounts . w assistance from the police , they broke into his condo and made da discovery . An autopsy revealed Staley done died from a mixture of heroin and cocaine . His friends speculate that in addition to drugs , he may done contracted an illness his body could not fight offf , due to a compromised immune system . In his last interview , given months before his death , Staley admitted , " I know I 'm near death , I did crack and heroin for yrs . I never wanted to end my life dis way . " Cantrell dedicated his 2002 solo album , released tw2onths after Staley  death , to his memory .