McClendon’s autopsy report rules death an accident
Posted 6:15 pm, June 8, 2016, by Sarah Stewart
OKLAHOMA CITY - Just one day after Oklahoma City police finished their investigation into Aubrey McClendon's death and said they found no evidence of suicide, the state medical examiner's office released the autopsy.
They ruled the death an accident.
McClendon died in a fiery crash on March 2nd, the day after being indicted by federal prosecutors for violating anti-trust laws by rigging bids for oil leases.
McClendon's vehicle slammed head on at a high rate of speed into a bridge abutment just south of Memorial Road on Midwest Boulevard.
The medical examiner's report ruled the cause of death multiple blunt force trauma due to a motor vehicle collision.
And the manner of death was ruled an accident, not suicide.
Those who knew Aubrey McClendon best say they're not surprised by the findings.
"It doesn't erase the tragedy or the loss but it does I think set aside some of those irresponsible speculations," said Pat Downs, one of the board members of the OKC Boathouse Foundation.
"Hopefully, it just kind of puts an end to those discussions that we felt were distracting and those of us who knew Aubrey well, you know, this is something that I think is not surprising," said Mike Knopp, also with the OKC Boathouse Foundation and a long time friend of McClendon's.
The autopsy also found that there was no alcohol found in McClendon's system.
They did detect doxylamine in his liver; that's an antihistamine and sedative used in allergy medications and sleep aides.
"I think that if it had meant something, he would've mentioned that in the report that he did, other than the fact that they found traces of it in the liver," said G. Terry Felts.
Felts does private death investigations and has a company that does private autopsies.
He says the McClendon autopsy report looks complete.
"I think it's done and I think that we should be satisfied from the standpoint of being the people that pay taxes and the police report and medical examiner's office did great jobs and they answered all the questions they could answer," said Felts.
And while we may never know exactly what cause McClendon's car to smash into the bridge, his friends are glad an official ruling has been made.
"It does put a period at the end of this sentence," said Downes.
A spokesperson for the medical examiner's office sent us this information about the ruling:
"There was no indication of suicide. When a vehicle accident occurs, it is usually ruled an accident unless a note of suicide is found or a statement made to someone of intentions of suicide. This is consistent with the National Association of Medical Examiners manner of death classification guide."