According to the autopsy, Henry's official cause of death was blunt force trauma due to that fall and it was accidental. Watch Live: Closing arguments underway in double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh All of the conversation at the Bengals training facility on Thursday -- and their wasn't much because of the widespread grief -- was positive reflection, but Henry shouldn't be canonized. PICTURES: Chris Henry Funeral. After Henry's death, his mother, Carolyn Henry Glaspy, gave BIRI permission to examine his brain in detail. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. "He had worked through trouble in his life and had seemingly reached the point where everything was going to blossom, and he was going to have the future we all wanted for him -- and he wanted for himself. We lost one of us. After only 19 catches and two touchdowns in 12 games in the 2008 season, he set about making himself a topflight receiver again. (AP), Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry died Thursday, a day after falling off a truck during a domestic dispute with his fiancee, a tragedy Bengals owner Mike Brown said "cut him down" just as he was "running to daylight.". He was also a father to two young boys and one girl. "It's a bright story and one that didn't get to get all the way to the end of it, which is the most unfortunate part," the coach said. Their days together in Morgantown is where they became great friends. "While jumping from a moving motor vehicle would ordinarily be considered extreme risk taking behavior, it seems that an individual in the decedent's state of health jumping from a moving pickup truck bed at the reported rate of speed would not be sufficient for a reasonable person to believe that this would be an act highly likely to cause death," the report reads. In an exclusive interview with ESPN, Tonga said they were not discussing the wedding details on the day the accident occurred. He loved my niece to death.". He was 26. "The brain floats freely in your skull," said Bennet Omalu, a neuropathologist who is co-director of BIRI. / CBS NEWS, First published on December 23, 2009 / 9:00 AM. But it doesn't take a collision with another player for brain trauma to occur. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. Henry was rushed to the hospital Wednesday after being found on a residential road. ", "I kind of felt like I dug myself out of the hole and started doing the right things," Henry said in an interview with The Associated Press as training camp opened. No traces of alcohol were found in a toxicology report, which didn't include any other tests for drugs. As we previously reported, cops believe Henry a wide receiver on the Cincinnati Bengals jumped . December 17, 2009 - Chris Henry Dead: NFL Star Thrown From Truck During Dispute with Fiancee Loleini Tonga, Say Cops First published on December 17, 2009 / 2:00 PM 2009 CBS Interactive Inc.. Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer and head coach Marvin Lewis delivered eulogies. Photo: Chris Henry, right, with, from left, his fiance, Loleini and their kids DeMarcus, 10 months, Seini, 3, and Chris Jr., 2. He couldn't hide his red, swollen eyes or the tear tracks that ran down his puffy cheeks. His 19.7-yard average per catch led the team before he broke his left forearm during a win last month over Baltimore. "I feel like I should been there to say, 'Hey, both of you--stop it, that's enough,'"said Tonga. Copyright 2010 FOX19. The former Cincinnati Bengals receiver is remembered fondly in the NFL community, but Henry was more than just a player. "I'm just happy they took me.". December 23, 2009 / 9:27 AM But in the final month of the season he was arrested for marijuana possession. Repeated blows to the head are the only known cause of CTE, researchers say. That's why I got it.". "For those who knew Chris, he was nothing like his public perception. It's painful to us. When he showed up in the locker room for the first time since surgery to fix the fracture, Henry sounded confident he could get through the latest setback. Remember the good. He had surgery and was placed on season-ending injured reserve following the game. Soft-spoken, funny, not hardly the reckless troublemaker the police, fans, media and everyone else who judged him to be. 15. He caught a touchdown pass in each of Cincinnati's four preseason games. That hub of support is why the Bengals had no problem with Henry being in Charlotte, even though most players on injured reserve remain with the team while rehabbing every day, attending meetings, practices and home games. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. Think what you want about Ochocinco, it was as sad and emotional of a scene as anyone with a soul could fathom. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. display: none; Worse, no matter how hard Henry's teammates, coaches, and family and friends try to tell us about how good of a person Henry had become, it is painful irony that one of the last recordings of his life will be documented on yet another police report. Henry was also an organ donor, and several of his organs, including his heart, lungs, liver, spleen and pancreas were all donated. @REALPACMAN24 tears up while talking about adopting Chris Henrys kids:We love each other hard. Selected in the third round, Henry played a vital role as a speedy, deep threat as Cincinnati reached the playoffs in his rookie season. No team showed an interest in bringing him back. Police spokeswoman Rosalyn Harrington said homicide detectives have been assigned to the case but had no further information. The truck incident happened Wednesday and and he was pronounced dead at 6:36 a.m. Thursday. Police said Tonga was going between 19-23 mph when he fell. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. It was a jolt to Henry, who had dreamed of an NFL career since high school, when he got the NFL logo tattooed on the back of his right hand. He released weights of over 240lbs which when dropped strangled him to death. ", MORE ON CRIMESIDERDecember 18, 2009 - Chris Henry 911 Call: Woman Reported Shirtless Man Beating on Back of Moving Truck (Pictures)December 17, 2009 - Loleini Tonga, Chris Henry's Fiancee, at Center of Storm; Homicide Detectives Look into NFL DeathDecember 17, 2009 - Chris Henry Dead: NFL Star Thrown From Truck During Dispute with Fiancee Loleini Tonga, Say Cops, Trending News Tom McHale, a guard for three NFL teams remembered by teammates as smart and dependable, sank into depression and died of a multiple-drug overdose in 2008. After only 19 catches and two touchdowns in 12 games in the 2008 season, he set about making himself a topflight receiver again. "If you only knew him by hearsay, you'd think he's some kind of ogre," Brown said, during the Bengals' appearance on HBO's "Hard Knocks" series this summer. "He's changed his life around. No charges were filed against Tonga. In cooperation with Loleini Tonga, the mother of Henrys children and his fiance at the time, Jones has had a hand in raising Henrys boys and is now their adopted father. When Henry was arrested for a fifth time following that season on an assault charge, the Bengals decided they'd had enough. Legal Statement. Researchers: WR Henry died with brain damage, The triumph of Michael B. Jordan and Jonathan Majors in Creed III, Top draft prospect Carter charged in fatal crash, Judge OK's some Flores claims vs. NFL for court, More PGA Tour changes: No cuts, smaller fields, No. Police said the dispute began at a home about a half-mile away, and Henry jumped into the bed of the pickup truck as his fiancee was driving away from the residence. Finally, Chris himself died of asphyxiation and was found hanging by the cord of a weight machine in his basement. "We liked him," Bengals President Mike Brown said on Thursday morning, shortly after learning of Henry's passing. This is a downcast period for the Bengals, not only losing 27-24 against San Diego, but having to bury a friend and teammate. Im still close with Loleini were inseparable. His career seemed finished. A loving and caring individual, he was thankful for what he had in life, and proud of what he had overcome.". Charlotte is home to his fiancee's parents. "Superimposed on the acute brain injuries Chris suffered when he died, there was fairly extensive damage throughout his brain that was fully consistent with CTE. "He worked through adversity and came out of it to be a beacon of hope for other people," Lewis said. File: Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry. Baltimore GM Eric DeCosta updated reporters on Wednesday on where things stand with the star QB. Henry dreamed of playing in the NFL, but after he was ejected from a game and suspended for another at West Virginia, the Bengals were the only team to bring him in for a pre-draft visit in 2005. Where things stand in the Alex Murdaugh double murder trial He was a good man, a good father. The report goes on to state that it is unclear if Henry actually jumped from the bed of the truck or fell due to the motion of the truck. In fact, that was Lewis' message to his team. Tonga, wearing large sunglasses, paused to gather herself repeatedly as she spoke to hundreds of mourners at his funeral including Henry's teammates who filled the grandstands at a suburban New Orleans events center. Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry died Thursday, one day after suffering serious injuries upon allegedly during a domestic dispute with his fiancee. "I'm worth the chance," Henry said, when he showed up the following weekend for a rookie minicamp. Witnesses told police Henry appeared to have jumped or fallenfrom the truck in which Tonga was driving. "We've all seen and experienced different sides of Chris, and with every side he showed us, we saw just how kind and gentle his heart was.". "He's changed his life around. He was a man just realizing his potential, not just in football, but in life". ET. 23. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). "People say, 'How you feeling now Chris? NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. ", Before the 2009 season, Henry got a new tattoo that matched his new outlook. September 3, 2021 @1:49pmby. The report says Henry suffered several injuries to his head, including a skull fracture, hematoma and abrasions. "Can't nobody know the way I'm feeling right now. All rights reserved. CHARLOTTE, NC (FOX19) - The Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner's Office in North Carolina released the autopsy report for Chris Henry on Tuesday. There were bibles placed beside both of their bodies. Ex-Georgia star Jalen Carter was racing in deadly crash, arrest warrants allege Rain Dogs, season 1 premiere (2023): Dark comedy. ", Before the 2009 season, Henry got a new tattoo that matched his new outlook. Tonga's Myspace page announced the couple had just bought their wedding ringsjust days before he died. Now, Bailes -- and likely Henry's family, friends and fans -- will wonder if his neural damage contributed to his emotional volatility, including whatever problems he was suffering the day he died. It is still not clear whether Henry jumped or fell, but as Tonga was driving at about 19 mph, Henry crashed to the ground, suffering a fractured skull and massive head injuries. / CBS News. We cry together, we pray together, we do everything together. Watch Live: Closing arguments underway in double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh, Top McCarthy aide, House Oversight chair each met with Ashli Babbitt's mother, Colon cancer rates rising in younger age group, study finds, Garland testifies before Senate panel amid ongoing special counsel probes, Ex-Georgia star Jalen Carter was racing in deadly crash, arrest warrants allege, Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students. I'm still trying to educate myself as to what it means. I'm just proud of him. He was excited about his career. Market data provided by Factset. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Henry was 26. Henry is engaged to Loleini Tonga, and the couple has been raising three children. Concussive hits can trigger a buildup of toxic tau protein within the brain, which in turn can create damaging tangles and threads in the neural fibers that connect brain tissue. Wake up to the day's most important news. "Whatever I can do to help anyone else who is going through this, I'm willing to do.". She wonders if that love cost Henry his life. CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - The Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner's office has released the autopsy report for Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry who died in north Charlotte last December. With the Carson Wentz era over in Washington, Commanders GM Martin Mayhew says while Sam Howell will have an opportunity to be QB1, the team, Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy feels reinvigorated after taking over play-calling duties, calling it "the most fun I've had since I've been in Dallas.". And, just like with Belushi, his tragic demise in December 1997 turned into a police investigation after it was learned that a woman had witnessed the struggling star's final drug-fueled hours. Henry, who grew up in nearby Belle Chasse, died Thursday, Dec. 17, after falling out of the back of a pickup truck driven by his fiancee, Loleini Tonga. It's been nearly 12 years since Chris Henry passed away. When Henry was arrested for a fifth time following that season on an assault charge, the Bengals decided they'd had enough. Palmer made some chuckle as he remembered Henry's friendly demeanor. No team showed an interest in bringing him back. "It's hard. (17 Dec 2009) HEADLINE: Neighbor describes accident scene\r---------------------------------------\rCAPTION: A neighbor of Chris Henry on Thursday described the scene of the accident that took the football player's life, while a friend reflects on the receiver's life. We're going to miss him. Henry?s death was ruled to be accidental, and no charges will be pursued against his fiance. ", "I kind of felt like I dug myself out of the hole and started doing the right things," Henry said in an interview with The Associated Press as training camp opened. Prior to the deadly accident, Henry was recovering from a broken forearm and he was in Charlottevisiting his finance so they could plan their March wedding. I just tell them I'm blessed. The reason why he was crying: The death of fellow wide receiver and teammate Chris Henry, who passed away Thursday morning from injuries sustained fewer than 24 hours earlier in a bizarre. Market data provided by Factset. Despite the fame and the fortune, the money, and the accolades, Marvin's family life was not peaceful . Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. This occurred after he fell from the back of a moving pickup truck, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended both in 2007 - Jones for a full season, Henry for half of it - as part of a toughening of the league's conduct policy. Then, they picked him in the third round. When he showed up in the locker room for the first time since surgery to fix the fracture, Henry sounded confident he could get through the latest setback.