Butch Trucks’ Death Ruled a Suicide
The recent death of Allman Brothers Band founding member Butch Trucks has officially been ruled a suicide. Police records of the drummer's death include the transcript of a 911 call from Trucks' distraught wife, Melinda, along with tragic details related to his death.
The Miami Herald reports that Trucks shot himself in the head with a pistol while standing near his wife of 25 years in their West Palm Beach, Fla., condo. Melinda called 911 at approximately 6PM on Jan. 24, and police reports say that the 69-year-old musician was still breathing when emergency technicians got to the scene, but died just shortly after their arrival. The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner's Office has performed an autopsy, but the results will not be released for at least a few weeks.
Trucks' longtime publicist, Todd Brodginski, did not return calls asking if the musician was struggling with depression as of late, but Trucks' family and the Allman Brothers released a joint statement asking for privacy.
“The Trucks and Allman Brothers Band families request all of Butch’s friends and fans to please respect our privacy at this time of sadness for our loss,” says a press release immediately following the drummer's death. “Butch will play on in our hearts forever."
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A native Floridian, Trucks was born and raised in the sunshine state before forming the Allman Brothers Band with Gregg and Duane Allman in the late 1960s. Called one of the Top 10 drummers in history, Trucks returned to Florida and settled in Palm Beach in the early '90s with his wife; the two became active participants for many local charities, often appearing at high-profile dinners to raise money for non-profit organizations.
Trucks is survived by Melinda, their four children and four grandchildren.
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