Autopsy Determines Dallas Cowboys Player's Cause Of Death
NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) - The Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office has completed and released the autopsy results on Dallas Cowboys practice squad member Jerry Brown Jr., who was killed in a December 8 crash along Highway 114 in Irving.
Brown, 25, was a passenger in the car that teammate Josh Brent was driving. Brent has been charged with Intoxication Manslaughter.
Police say Brent was speeding when his car hit a curb, flipped and came to rest upside-down.
The medical examiner's report details Jerry Brown's condition, noting abrasions on the right and left forehead and a cut on his left eyebrow. Toxicology results show that Brown was not legally intoxicated and had a blood alcohol level of 0.056 -- well below the legal limit of 0.08. While Brown had no skull fractures, the report found his neck had been dislocated and spinal cord severely bruised.
The report ultimately concluded that Jerry Brown's death was a result of "blunt force injuries of the head and neck."
Brown had just signed to the Cowboys Dallas practice squad in October, after being cut from the Indianapolis Colts.
Brent and Brown, who had been teammates at the University of Illinois, were close friends. Brent had opened his home to Brown when he moved to North Texas and the two were roommates at the time of the crash.
Jerry Brown Jr. was buried on December 15 in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, in a Cowboys grey casket that had the team logo on the side.
It's believed a northwest Dallas nightclub is not the only place Brent and Brown partied that fateful night. They may have started their evening at Eddie V's restaurant in Oak Lawn. The restaurant issued a statement saying: "First and foremost, regardless of the circumstances this was a very tragic accident and our thoughts and prayers go out to Jerry Brown's family, friends and teammates. This is an ongoing investigation so it would not be appropriate for us to comment on any specifics related to the situation. We have been and are fully cooperating with the local authorities as they investigate the accident and any specific questions regarding this matter should be directed to them. We can assure you that we take the responsibility that comes with serving alcohol very seriously."
Where the men were and when is just one of the threads that both police and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission are trying to run down, according to Lt. Michael Lockhart. "Who served them, how much, whether they were over served; we always look at last point of service."
Lockhart claims despite public interest and the celebrity of the accused, this is a normal investigation, with normal time frames.
"We're not trying to 'get' anyone, so we're trying to keep a very balanced outlook," he says adding, "It's not what we think we know, it's what we can prove or not prove." Lockhart adds not all potential witnesses have returned to town after the holidays.
Irving Police have loose ends to wrap up as well, according to spokesman Sgt. John Argumaniz.
"Talking to investigators they believe we are about 90% done; there are a lot of subpoenas and stuff sent out requesting material and items that we're still waiting on, as well as a complete reconstruction of he accident, and it was a large scene out there. So it does take some time."
Josh Brent is still a member of the Dallas Cowboys, but has been placed on the reserve/non-football illness list. He was originally arrested on a $500,000 bond but that amount has since been reduced to $100,000 on the condition that he wear an ankle monitor that measures one's blood alcohol level. Police records show that at the time of the crash Brent has a blood alcohol level of level 0.189 -- more than twice the legal limit.
A Dallas County grand jury officially indicted Brent on the drunk driving death charge, but no trial date has been set.
