Bronco star Demarius Thomas has passed away at the age of 33.
Ron Chinoy / USA Today Sports
The Fulton County (Ga.) Medical Examiner’s office has determined that former All-Pro recipient Demaryius Thomas died from “complications of seizure disorder,” According to an autopsy obtained by 9News Denver.
Thomas, 33, was found dead while showering his home in Roswell, Georgia on December 9, two weeks before his 34th birthday. A day later, Thomas’ family released a statement saying they believed he died after suffering a seizure while in the shower after revealing that he had been dealing with frequent seizures since a car accident in 2019.
According to 9News, a medical examiner confirmed that Thomas suffered from a seizure disorder, but was unable to determine whether it was “a result of natural causes or a result of head impacts” from his football career. The report, published on Friday, comes exactly one month later New York times Boston University researchers report a previous diagnosis of major bronchopulmonary disease with stage 2 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
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Seizures are generally not associated with CTE, Dr. Ann Mackey, a neurologist who studied Thomas’ brain, said in July. The autopsy results supported this belief after the Fulton County medical examiner shared that a Boston University physician ruled the matter. There is no direct relationship between chronic traumatic encephalopathy and the development of a seizure disorder”.
In addition to noting the presence of degenerative brain disease in its report, the medical examiner’s office discovered traces of nicotine and marijuana in Thomas’ system, which were eventually ruled out as a possible cause of death. Tests also ruled out COVID-19, according to 9News.
The former Georgia Tech star was named by the Broncos #22 in 2010, spent eight seasons in Denver, reached the Pro Bowl for three consecutive campaigns from 2012 to 14 and won the Super Bowl in ’15.
During his 10-season career with the Broncos, Texas, Patriots and Jets teams, Thomas collected 724 assists, racked up 9,763 yards and 63 touchdowns. he is Officially retired in June 2021 After signing a one-day contract with the Broncos.
