Autopsy shows Finnerty died of pneumonia; other complications

Former Grand Valley State University quarterback Cullen Finnerty died from pneumonia, according to an autopsy conducted by the Kent County medical examiner. 

Complications included oxycodone toxicity and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or C.T.E.

The report indicates that Finnerty became incapacitated, vomited, and inhaled the vomit, causing the pneumonia. 

Finnerty's body was found after he went missing from a fishing trip in May. 

Grand Valley head football coach Matt Mitchell addressed the issue of head trauma during a news conference on August 8. 

Mitchell said that the loss to Finnerty's family, wife, and children, along with the loss to the Grand Valley State University community and the Laker athletics community is a tragedy. 

Mitchell noted that Grand Valley has a program in place to monitor student athletes for any injury, especially those involving head trauma.