He had an 'interesting' death too.
Smith died on October 21, 2003 at the age of 34 from two stab wounds to the chest.[8] At the time of the stabbing, he was at his Lemoyne Street home in Echo Park, California,[85] where he lived with his girlfriend, Jennifer Chiba. According to Chiba, the two were arguing,[40] and she locked herself in the bathroom to take a shower.[86] Chiba heard him scream and upon opening the door saw Smith standing with a knife in his chest. She pulled the knife out, after which he collapsed and she called 9-1-1 at 12:18 pm. Smith died in the hospital with the time of death listed as 1:36 p.m.
A possible suicide note, written on a Post-it note, read: "I'm so sorry—love, Elliott. God forgive me."[8] The name "Elliott" is misspelled as "Elliot" in the coroner's report of the note, but not on the Post-it.[8] While Smith's death was reported as a suicide, the official autopsy report released in December 2003 left open the question of homicide.[8]
According to Pitchfork, record producer Larry Crane reported on his Tape Op message board that he had planned to help Smith mix his album in mid-November. Crane wrote, "I hadn't talked to Elliott in over a year. His girlfriend, Jennifer, called me [last week] and asked if I'd like to come to L.A. and help mix and finish [Smith's album]. I said 'yes, of course', and chatted with Elliott for the first time in ages. It seems surreal that he would call me to finish an album and then a week later kill himself. I talked to Jennifer this morning, who was obviously shattered and in tears, and she said, 'I don't understand, he was so healthy.'"[87]
The coroner reported that no traces of illegal substances or alcohol were found in Smith's system at the time of his death but did find prescribed levels of antidepressant, anxiolytic, and ADHD medications, including clonazepam, mirtazapine, atomoxetine, and amphetamine.[88] There were no hesitation wounds, which are typical of suicide by self-infliction.[40] Due to the inconclusive autopsy ruling, the Los Angeles Police Department's investigation remains open.