Peter Steele Cause of Death:
Aortic Aneurysm & Heart Failure Explained

When Steele died at his home in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the initial hospital report attributed his death to heart failure. The subsequent autopsy appeared to confirm an aortic aneurysm as the cause, with Type O Negative manager Mike Renault reporting this finding to CBS News. This diagnosis seemed plausible given Steele's medical history: he had su

The Initial Misdiagnosis

The Corrected Cause of Death

On November 7, 2018—more than eight years after Steele's death—Kathy O'Connor of the Estate of Peter T. Ratajczyk Steele published an official correction. The actual cause of death was sepsis brought on by untreated diverticulitis, not an aortic aneurysm. Diverticulitis is an inflammation of small pouches in the colon that, when left untreated, can progress to sepsis, a life-threatening systemic infection.

The Timeline of His Final Days

Steele's death occurred during what should have been a hopeful period. In fall 2009, he had stopped drinking alcohol and using drugs, marking a significant recovery after decades of substance abuse. He was living in Scranton to be close to his girlfriend and was excited about recording new material with Type O Negative. The band had arranged to set up equipment in a Staten Island studio to begin recording a new album in early May 2010.

On April 12, 2010, Steele began suffering from what appeared to be the flu. However, this illness was actually the onset of diverticulitis. Over the next couple of days, his condition deteriorated, but he did not seek hospital admission.

The Preventable Tragedy

The most tragic aspect of Steele's death is that it was likely preventable. According to the estate's clarification, Steele refused to go to the hospital because he did not want to leave one of his cats, who was suffering from a tumor. Had he sought immediate medical attention once sepsis developed, he would likely have survived. His family learned about the septic diverticulitis diagnosis only months after his death.

Underlying Health Vulnerabilities

While diverticulitis was the immediate cause, Steele's decades of substance abuse created a compromised physical foundation. He had admitted to struggling with cocaine binges and called alcohol a "liquid drug." He began using cocaine at age 35 and continued heavy drug and alcohol use for years despite being on medication for atrial fibrillation. Keyboardist Josh Silver reflected on this vulnerability: "Who knows if he died from all the drugs over the years or something else... There is a price you pay for being so big, too."

The atrial fibrillation itself was likely congenital—Steele reported feeling heart palpitations since childhood, and his family history of early cardiac deaths suggested a genetic component.

The Broader Context

Steele's death came just weeks before Type O Negative was set to begin recording what would have been their first album since Dead Again (released March 2007). His bandmates reported that he seemed to be doing well and was genuinely excited about the creative work ahead. Drummer Johnny Kelly received the call from Steele's sister informing the band of his death.

The irony was profound: after achieving sobriety and improved health, after planning a creative renaissance, Steele died from a treatable medical condition exacerbated by his reluctance to seek help—a decision rooted not in denial but in concern for a suffering pet.