Franklin County Coroner Anahi Ortiz says a special examination will look for signs of traumatic brain injury in an Ohio State athlete found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Ortiz says the examination by an Ohio State neuropathologist is being conducted because Kosta Karageorge had a reported history of multiple concussions. Ortiz said Monday that an autopsy determined the 22-year-old Karageorge died of a gunshot wound, but she hasn't yet definitively ruled it a suicide. Columbus police said Sunday that Karageorge died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Given the early stage of the investigation into the death of Ohio State football player Kosta Karageorge, Ohio State officials stated that football coach Urban Meyer could not comment on the situation at today's weekly press conference. Meyer did say it's been a difficult stretch of days between learning of Karageorge's disappearance last week and finding out about his death Sunday. Back in 2007, one of Meyer's players at Florida died in a motorcycle accident. At his press conference today, Meyer explained how he got through that tragedy.
"I reached out to some people back then, and ... it's difficult. I mean, there's... you can look in the coaching manual, I'm not sure you'll find anything. But the tighter the group, the better the opportunity you have to - you'll never get over it - but it's an opportunity to... I'm not sure 'learn' is the appropriate word either, but continue to grow and continue on your journey."
Karageorge's mother has told police that he texted her about his prior concussions the morning he disappeared. A missing-person report filed with Columbus police last week says Karageorge told his mother he was sorry if he was an embarrassment, but that concussions had his head affected him.
When about the suggestion that Karageorge's concussion problems had been ignored, Meyer expressed support for OSU athletic staff.
"I can say this: I know that this is the best group of medical people I've ever been around. I know that, the way they handle their business, and their attention to detail."
Karageorge had been a Buckeye wrestler for three years and joined the football team as a walk-on this season.
