Chester Bennington's body was discovered by his distraught housekeeper

On the tape, obtained by TMZ, a driver for the 'In The End' hitmaker - who leaves behind six children and wife Talinda - says: "I just got to the location and his housekeeper came out and said he killed himself.

"I haven't seen him, I'm sitting in the car, his housekeeper came out and said she found him dead.

"I asked, 'I said, is he cold? Is he warm?' And she said, 'He's dead.' He's been hanging and she's talking to his wife right now ...

"He's hung himself. That's what his housekeeper said, I haven't seen him."

Later in the tape, released by Police in Palos Verdes Estates, California, the driver confirmed the woman heard sobbing loudly in the background was Chester's maid.

When asked by the operator if the woman in the background was the housekeeper, the driver replied: "Yeah, she's talking to his wife."

The singer's death was officially ruled as suicide by hanging, the LA County Coroner's Office confirmed yesterday (24.07.17).

Earlier in the day, Chester's devastated bandmates Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Dave Farrell, Joe Hahn and Rob Bourdon posted a lengthy tribute letter on Linkin Park's website.

Part of the letter read: "Dear Chester,

"Our hearts are broken. The shockwaves of grief and denial are still sweeping through our family as we come to grips with what has happened.

"You touched so many lives, maybe even more than you realized. In the past few days, we've seen an outpouring of love and support, both public and private, from around the world. Talinda and the family appreciate it, and want the world to know that you were the best husband, son, and father; the family will never be whole without you.

"Talking with you about the years ahead together, your excitement was infectious. Your absence leaves a void that can never be filled - a boisterous, funny, ambitious, creative, kind, generous voice in the room is missing."