Report: Autopsy on Sooners LB revealed

Published Jul. 12, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

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An autopsy on University of Oklahoma linebacker Austin Box, who died in May after being found unresponsive at a friend's house, revealed a toxic mixture of prescription medications, The Oklahoman reported Tuesday.

According to the toxicology report released by Box's parents, Craig and Gail Box, the 22-year-old football player most likely died from a lethal combination of painkillers.

Five drugs were found in Box's system including oxymorphone, morphine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone and oxycodone with alprazolam. His death was ruled an accident, according to the report. No traces of illegal street drugs or alcohol were found.

In an interview from their home in Enid, Okla., 85 miles north of Oklahoma City, Box's parents were in shock over the results, saying despite several injuries throughout their son's athletic career, he was never one to abuse pain medication.

Box, who had an injured back and experienced pain when he played and some discomfort off the field, was not believed to be taking painkillers prescribed to him at the time of his death, his parents told The Oklahoman.

Box also underwent Tommy John surgery in 2009 to repair elbow damage, but his mother told the newspaper her son refused to take all the prescribed painkillers.

According to the autopsy report, the probable cause of death was identified as "pulmonary edema and aspiration pneumonia" due to central nervous system depression probably caused by "mixed drug toxicity." The report also listed an enlarged heart and a history of chronic pain as other significant medical conditions, according to The Oklahoman.

Box was found unresponsive May 19 at a friend's house in El Reno, Okla.

"There's a guy who stayed with me last night and he's not responding to me. He takes pain pills and he's not responding to me," the 911 caller told an emergency dispatcher.

Box was taken by ambulance to a hospital in El Reno before being airlifted to Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City, where he was pronounced dead.

Box was a junior this past season for the Sooners, recording 37 tackles at middle linebacker. He was expected to be the starter at the position in his senior season and had graduated in May.