2012 Year in Review: The Death of Andy Reid's Son Garrett
By Brad Segall
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The excitement over the start of a new Eagles season was shattered over the summer with the sudden and tragic death of Coach Andy Reid's eldest son, Garrett.
Garret Reid, 29, was found unresponsive in his dormitory room at Eagles' training camp at Lehigh University, in Bethlehem, Pa., in early August. Efforts to revive him failed (see news story). The younger Reid had been at camp assisting the team's strength and conditioning coach.
After a two-month investigation, Northampton County prosecutor John Morganelli released a cause of death:
"Relying on the work done by the forensic pathologist, which included the autopsy and the toxicology as well as the evidence found at the scene, we are confident that Mr. Reid's death was the result of a self-injected lethal dose of heroin."
Morganelli said there were no signs of foul play (see related story).
Reid's drug addiction became public five years earlier, after a heroin-fueled crash in Plymouth Meeting that landed him in jail.
Speaking to reporters after Garrett's funeral, Eagles' owner Jeffrey Lurie said, "There was a lot of tears but also a lot of joys about the best parts of Garrett's life, and acknowledgement of the challenges that he's had over the years. It's a terrible challenge that we know many people have, and it's a tough one to beat."
Numerous syringes and needles were also found in the dorm room, along with several vials containing steroids (see related story).
