The autopsy of former Grand Valley State quarterback Cullen Finnerty, who disappeared in a Michigan forest, found the 30-year-old to have a degenerative brain disease associated with concussions.
The latest and final autopsy determined Finnerty "died of pneumonia caused by inhaling his vomit, after he became disoriented possibly because of a painkiller combined with having a degenerative brain disease," the Associated Press on Thursday reported.
Finnerty exhibited signs of anxiety and paranoia on the night of his death, which the autopsy report suggested may have been affected by elevated levels of oxycodone and the brain disease.
The brain disease Finnerty was determined to have, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), can be caused by concussions and has been found in a number of former football players.
Boston University studied Finnerty's brain and concluded the former college star suffered from a moderate case of CTE, but said the disease alone did not lead to his death.
"CTE possibly affected his judgment, insight and behavior, but there are other factors, including the use of medications prescribed by his doctor, that most likely contributed to the circumstances surrounding his death," the school's Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy said in a statement, via AP. "Unfortunately because of the complexity of his medications and medical status, it is impossible to determine the specific combination of factors that led to his tragic death."
Finnerty disappeared in the Michigan wilderness on the night of May 26. Family dropped him off around 8:30 p.m. for an impromptu fishing trip. Soon after, Finnerty had two short phone conversations with family members, who said he sounded disoriented and paranoid. He said he thought he was being followed in the woods and that he was taking off his clothes.
Family was unable to locate him, and searchers discovered his body two days later less than a mile from where he disappeared. The initial autopsy found no indication of trauma to the body.
Finnerty led his Division II school to more than 50 wins and three national titles. He left Grand Valley State after the 2006 season and joined briefly with the Baltimore Ravens and then Denver Broncos, although he never played in a regular season game.
He is the latest football player to be diagnosed with CTE, a disease detectable only by autopsy. Boston University reported last year that 34 former pro football players and nine college football players suffered from CTE.
Thousands of former NFL players are suing the league for allegedly withholding information on the dangerous effects of concussions. The NCAA is also facing at least one lawsuit for its handling of concussions.
