Junior Seau autopsy finds no signs of drugs or brain damage

Posted on August 20th, 2012

Former Chargers linebacker Junior Seau had no drugs or alcohol in his system when he committed suicide, according to an autopsy report released by the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office on Monday.

The report states that the football legend died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the heart in the morning of May 2. He was 43.

The 275-pound Oceanside native was found by his girlfriend in a spare room upstairs, according to the report.

According to the report, the girlfriend "tried calling [Seau] multiple times in the ensuing hours, but his phone went directly to voice mail. She returned to the home and began searching for him, subsequently finding him unresponsive in a bed with a handgun nearby and a large amount of blood."

She called 911 at 9:36 a.m. and reponders "attempted resuscitative efforts, but death was pronounced at the scene."

Seau had a "penetrating gunshot wound of the chest."

"The entrance wound, on the left side of the chest, had soot deposition and a muzzle imprint abrasion that matched the appearance of the revolver found at the scene," stated the report.

A .357 caliber revolver with one expended cartridge and five unexpended hollow-point cartridges was found at the scene, according to the report.

He was last known to be alive at 7:45 a.m. No suicide note was found.

The report also noted that small amounts of Zolpidem, a drug used to treat insomnia, and naproxen, an anti-inflammatory used to relieve pain, tenderness, swelling and stiffness from arthritis, were detected. Those test results were "consistent with therapeutic use," according to the Medical Examiner.

According to an investigator's report, Seau had "an unremarkable medical history."

"While he had no known suicidal ideation or confirmed attempt, there had been speculation of attempted suicide following an incident in which his vehicle drove off of a cliff," the report stated referring to a October 2010 when Seau’s SUV went over a seaside cliff in Carlsbad.

Seau was a 12-time Pro Bowl selection, and a 10-time All-Pro. He was drafted by the Chargers with the fifth overall pick in the 1990 NFL Draft out of the University of Southern California. In November 2011, he was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame.

-City News Service contributed to this report