Report: McKinley Spoke of Suicide After Re-Injury
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) – A sheriff’s report reveals some disturbing new details on the death of former Gamecock football player and Denver Broncos wide receiver Kenny McKinley.
McKinley re-injured his knee before the start of this NFL season. According to a report by the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, an investigator said McKinley had been depressed after his knee surgery four weeks ago. The report says, “He had made statements while playing dominoes shortly after the surgery that he should just kill himself. No one believed he was serious.” The report does not reference the source who said McKinley was suicidal.
McKinley’s teammate Broncos linebacker Wesley Woodyard says McKinley did not seem different when he last saw him a week and a half ago. Woodyard says, “He (McKinley) had a big smile on his face.”
The sheriff’s report also says the wife of Corey Boyd, McKinley’s former teammate, and another friend found McKinley dead Monday at his house in Denver. The report says McKinley’s toddler son was also in the home at the time and was down for a nap. Boyd’s wife says she, her friend, and McKinley’s young son had gone to lunch earlier, and that they did not hear a gunshot. In fact, they said they did not know McKinley owned a gun.
The sheriff’s report goes on to say that according to an investigator, McKinley had made statements that he did not know what he would do if he could not play football, that the game was all he knew. Investigators say the room McKinley was found in smelled of marijuana, they also found a bong and a baggie and the TV was tuned to the NFL Network.
Kenny McKinley’s funeral will be held Monday at the Word of Faith Family Worship Cathedral in Austell, Georgia near his hometown of Mabelton. The service is open to the public.
Related Links:
September 22, 2010 – New Details on McKinley’s Death
September 21, 2010 – Report: McKinley was depressed
September 21, 2010 – USC Students Remember McKinley
September 21, 2010 – Pressure on Athletes, Suicide Prevention
September 21, 2010 – Broncos Take McKinley Loss Hard
September 21, 2010 – USC Deals with Tragedy Head-On
September 20, 2010 – USC Mourns Loss of Kenny McKinley
Condolences Page – Share your Memories of Kenny McKinley
