Autopsy Completed On Man Found Dead In SunTrust Park Cooler

MARIETTA, GA -- Autopsy results on a 48-year-old found dead inside a confined cooler at SunTrust Park indicate he died of asphyxia due to carbon dioxide exposure. Workers found Marvin Todd Keeling dead inside the cooler on June 26th. The autopsy calls the manner of death an accident.

The investigation found images on Keeling's cell phone that indicated he went into his cooler to work on the valve system. Carbon dioxide is used to provide carbonation in beer tap systems. A surveillance camera in the area was not working, so investigators could not determine when Keeling went into the cooler or how long the cooler had been closed before he entered.

Later testing by the Cobb County Fire Department found the concentration of carbon dioxide in the room increased rapidly after they turned on the equipment. Investigators also found the door handle to the cooler malfunctioned which could have prevented a quick escape. However, there is no evidence Keeling tried to use the door, nor any evidence he tried to use the working cellphone he had with him. The report says this was likely due to Keeling becoming "so disoriented he was unable to form and act on logical thought processes."

Cobb County Medical Examiner Dr. Christopher Gulledge says this was a collaborative investigation between the Cobb County Police Department, Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services, OSHA and the Medical Examiner’s office.

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Image Tiffany Johnson