Former Brighton Football Star Died of Pneumonia

Former Brighton High School football start Cullen Finnerty died of pneumonia according to autopsy findings released Thursday by the Lake County Sheriff’s Department.

The New York Times reports that Finnerty, in addition to the pneumonia, had complications from oxycodone toxicity and the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

In May, the former Grand Valley State quarterback and Baltimore Ravens player was found in the woods about a half mile north of where he disappeared while fishing on the Baldwin River.

According to a Facebook page dedicated to help search for missing people, Finnerty had contacted his family by phone and said he was having what was described as an "episode." He told his family he was scared and then "wandered into the woods."

Finnerty's body was found on May 28 by a search party and reports indicated that the initial autopsy for the 30-year-old husband and father of two was inconclusive with the initial toxicology report negative, meaning substance abuse was not the cause of his death.

The New York Times article states Finnerty had been taking oxycodone for severe back pain at the time of his death.

"Finnerty, the report continued, became incapacitated, vomited and inhaled the vomit, which caused the pneumonia," the article states. "His brain was studied at the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy at Boston University, which found he had Stage II C.T.E. There are four stages."

A fundraising golf scramble in honor of Finnerty will take place at The Jackel Golf Club in Brighton on August 24.

Proceeds from the C-Time Scramble will benefit Finnerty's widow and children as well as "remembering Cullen" who loved golf outings, according to a Facebook post.

Cost of the C- Time Scramble is $150 for an individual or $540 for a team. The event begins as 11 a.m. and includes a dinner, silent auction and raffle.

To register, mail payments with names of each player and team name to:

Joe Petersen
P.O. Box 200
Howell, MI 48844

Checks are asked to be make out to Jenn Finnerty with “The Cullen Finnerty Fund” in the memo. For more information on how to donate or sponsor a hole, send a message to cullenfund@yahoo.com.

Tatum Ryan contributed to this report.