OTL: Jovan Belcher's Brain Had CTE Traces

((HT: ESPN-OTL/Delsohn))

Steve Delsohn's story on the two years since the death of Kansas City Chief Jovan Belcher, really, is no surprise.

In 2012, Belcher would kill his wife and child in the early morning hours of December 1st. The ensuing investigation after the exhuming of his body yielded the possibility of the Tau protein in his brain that is an indicator of CTE.

The hook from Delsohn:

If it can be shown that Belcher did have CTE, Belcher's daughter and mother, together, would be eligible for up to $4 million under the proposed concussion settlement between the NFL and former players. Furthermore, the lawyers representing Belcher's daughter have filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the Chiefs on her behalf. Belcher's mother, with different attorneys, filed an almost identical suit.

Here's discussion of the lawsuit at the time
((HT: KCPT))


Word was that Belcher's mother had the idea that her son's brain should be examined to determine if concussions could have been a cause or "the" cause in the behavior Jovan Belcher exhibited in, eventually, killing Kasandra Perkins and his 3-month-old daughter.

Scott Pioli was the Chiefs GM at the time and was standing in front of Belcher when he committed suicide. He addressed the subject at the Roman Numeral Classic after the year was over.
((HT: Dan Patrick Show))

Belcher Family Sues Chiefs In Wrongful Death Suit

Read the suit here...

The HQ figured this might happen...

Michael McCann, through his Twitter, maintains the two largest points as we go forward: his mom must prove 1) Chiefs negligent for his brain injury + 2) that injury "caused" his suicide. Both hard to show.

But the suit, in the name of Belcher's mother, maintains that the Chiefs “fostered an environment” where Belcher was "forced" to play through injuries and “become further exposed to neurological harm.” Then Chiefs GM Scott Pioli and others in the organization are accused of telling Belcher he'd be gone if he didn't play.

The family is looking for damages starting at $15,000 plus other relief.

Here's early returns from KCTV
KCTV5

Interesting note out of all this...

Former Chiefs Joe Horn and Tamarick Vanover joined a lawsuit by former Chiefs players against their team on Friday, taking advantage of a Missouri state law saying that employees can circumvent federal guidelines and take an employer to court locally. They maintain their injuries led to brain trauma, including CTE.

Belcher Body To Be Exhumed, Brain Examined

((HT: Kansas City Star/Mellinger))

Did Jovan Belcher suffer from CTE...???

That will be the question that will be attempted to be answered after Belcher's body is exhumed from a New York cemetery and his brain examined in, what is thought to be, the first exhumation of an NFL player to determine a possible cause in his physical issues that he had close to his suicide almost a year ago.

Belcher shot his girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins, December 1, 2012 and then drove to the Chiefs complex where he committed suicide in front of then-GM Scott Pioli...

Here's Pioli discussing Belcher during Super Bowl week...
((HT: Dan Patrick Show))


Belcher was stopped earlier in the morning of the murder-suicideon a traffic stop


Here are police arriving at the scene-moments later, Belcher killed himself...


Belcher's family, simply wants to know and this may help in the process. Perkins' family doesn't think this will solve anything...

Police release Jovan Belcher autopsy reports

Belcher and Perkins, and Baby Zoey (photo courtesy KCTV)

KANSAS CITY - On Monday, officials released the autopsy reports surrounding the murder suicide of Kasandra Perkins and Kansas City linebacker Jovan Belcher.

The Jackson County Medical Examiner said first, in the released reports, that Belcher shot Perkins nine times. The troubled NFL star shot his girlfriend/mother of his child in the neck, chest, abdomen, hip, back, leg and hand. The hand wound was the only one considered to be done at close range. Bullets perforated her liver, kidney, and spleen and struck and traveled through parts of her backbone.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/01/14/4010286/autopsy-belcher-was-drunk-when.html#storylink=cpy

In a not-so-surprising twist, Belcher was also declared legally intoxicated at the time of the shooting. According to the Kansas City Star, the results show Belcher’s blood-alcohol level was .17 when he died, which is more than twice the legal driving limit in Kansas. Belcher died from a single gunshot would to his right temple, according to the report.

The report also shows both Perkins and Belcher tested negative for illegal drugs.

Here are the early returns:


The police report officially says Belcher shot Perkins at her home on December 1, and then drove to Arrowhead Stadium - where Belcher shot and killed himself in front of GM Scott Pioli, head coach Romeo Crennel, and defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs.

Police also released the fact that Belcher threatened to shoot Perkins earlier in 2012. His daughter, Zoey, born in September 2012, and is currently in the custody of Perkins' mother. However, Belcher's family has now entered into a legal fight for custody of Zoey. A Fort Worth judge has scheduled a Jan. 22 hearing in the custody lawsuit.

Belcher Report Reveals Previous Problems

((HT: KSHB-TV Kansas City))

There's more disturbing news in the Jovan Belcher case...

The short version is the police investigation has been released and it details the idea that Belcher texted a "secret" girlfriend saying he would kill Kasandra Perkins, the mother of his child, if she wouldn't leave him alone...

Also, the day of Belcher's suicide and the murder of Perkins are detailed in affidavits from Chiefs GM Scott Pioli- and it's not pretty...

Here's the report on the report...

Sad...

That's the only word that comes immediately to mind... in a really bad season that spiraled even further down- if that's even possible...

Dashcam Released In Belcher Murder-Suicide

((HT: KSHB-TV))

We get to add a little more depth to the Jovan Belcher story on the morning of the murder-suicide that rocked Kansas City a week ago...

Belcher was, apparently, found by police sleeping in his car and was told by an officer upon discovery that they were going to "cut him a break..."

That discussion is hyah...

We all know what happened later in the day...

Here's the story...
And the dashcam video itself from the KCPD of the arrival at Arrowhead...

911 Tapes Released In Belcher Shooting

((HT: KSHB-TV))

Admittedly, the HQ is a bit squeamish when doing stories like this...

But in the advancing of the Jovan Belcher murder-suicide from the weekend, the 911 tapes have been released from the time that Kasandra Perkins' mother called authorities to alert them of the situation...

Here's the story...

After the shooting at the house, Belcher went to Chiefs headquarters where he would take his own life in front of his head coach and General Manager...

DEVELOPING: NFL player kills girlfriend, then commits suicide (UPDATED Plus SUNDAY UPDATE)

Police on scene of first shooting (photo courtesy: KCTV)

KANSAS CITY -- According to the Kansas City Star and KCTV, police are investing a double fatal shooting that involves a Kansas City Chiefs player and his girlfriend.

Police reports say the first shooting happened around 8am, where officers say the player shot and killed his girlfriend in a house near 54th Street and Chrysler Avenue. Moments later, the player drove himself to the Chiefs' practice facility where officers say he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

A police spokesman said coaches arrived at the practice facility before the second shooting and talked with the player briefly before he committed suicide.

The player's name has yet to be released, and the identity of the girlfriend is being held until notification of next of kin.

Officials believe the Chiefs' front office will release a statement shortly in reference to this shooting. Police locked down Arrowhead Stadium and surrounding buildings for about an hour until they could determine what actually happened and that everyone in the area was safe.

Stay tuned to OSG Sports for more on this developing story.

1100 UPDATE: According to the "Save Our Chiefs" Facebook page, According to the Police Chief in KC, the player shot himself in front of "a couple coaches" and police. The Chiefs, Panthers and NFL are in discussions regarding the game the tomorrow. A decision will be made today regarding game status.

Here's the statement from the Chiefs: "We can confirm that there was an incident at Arrowhead earlier this morning. We are cooperating with authorities in their investigation.”

More when we know more...

1107: CBSSports Jason LaCanfora is reporting the Chiefs player to be Jovan Belcher

1110: According to Kansas City radio personality Danny Parkins, The player apparently was confronted w/coaches in the parking lot before he put the gun to his head and committed suicide

1125: Kevin Kietzman of Sports Radio 810 tweet confirms that Belcher is player involved in double shooting.

1145: From Albert Breer at NFL Network

Just got off phone w/the KCPD. Spokesman said PD the girl's mother called them, her daughter had been shot by her "on-again, off-again bf"

That call was at 7:50 CT. Police called to Arrowhead at 8:10. They found Chiefs staffers, and the player w/a gun to his head in parking lot.

As the officer got out of his car, he heard a gunshot. Player was taken to local hospital, pronounced dead

1150: From LaCanfora again

KCPD Officer Darin Snapp confirms GM Scott Pioli and Coach Romeo Crennel were outside team facility at the time Chiefs player killed himself

KCPD say the player thanked both men before taking his life, and that Pioli and Crennel did not feel threatened. KCPD not revealing identity

of the player yet to allow time for family notification but team sources say it was LB Jovan Belcher, as reported.

Here's early reports and interviews from our friends at KCTV
KCTV5

1600: KMBC-TV is reporting the name of the deceased- 22 year-old Kasandra Perkins-

KMBC-TV correspondent Diane Cho is reporting that Perkins and Belcher got into an argument because Perkins apparently got home late from a concert Friday night in Kansas City.

SUNDAY UPDATE: Apparently, Perkins and Whitney Charles- the wife of Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles were cousins... here's more on Perkins from KSHB-TV
((HT: NBCActionNews.com))
Isaac Rauch, over at Deadspin, has published a piece involving an individual claiming to be close to Belcher.

This source is telling Rauch that Belcher's relationship with Perkins was one of two people who were "young and immature." The fight over the concert Perkins attended was only part of the dynamic and not the last straw. Belcher, allegedly, was balancing medication, alcohol, and occasional short-term memory loss from his playing time.

The November 18th game the Chiefs played against Cincinnati as a game that Belcher took direct contact to the head on more than one occasion- according to Rauch's source. Coaches held Belcher out of most of the Broncos game the following weekend since he was more of a run-stopper playing against a passing offense.

But, now we may have more of an idea on the "why." And if it is accurate, then the story compounded is even more sad.