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Kile autopsy finds blocked coronary artery

The Associated Press
Tuesday June 25, 2002

CHICAGO — Darryl Kile of the St. Louis Cardinals likely died from a blockage of a coronary artery, Cook County’s chief medical examiner said. 

An autopsy showed the 33-year-old pitcher had ”80-to-90 percent narrowing of two of the three branches of the coronary artery,” Dr. Edmund Donoghue said Sunday. He said the blockage was the “likely cause of death.” 

Kile was found dead in the team hotel Saturday. Police said there were no signs of forced entry or foul play. 

Donoghue said Kile had dinner with his brother, Daniel, on Friday night and had complained of shoulder pain and feeling weak. 

Donoghue said a final finding on the cause of death could take 4-to-6 weeks because he wants to study toxicology reports. He gave no indication that drugs or illegal substances were involved. 

“The complete results are pending,” Donoghue said. 

Donoghue also said “possible marijuana” was found in the hotel room, but added, “I want to make it very clear it had nothing to do with his death.” 

Kile’s heart condition, called coronary atherosclerosis, is commonly known as hardening of the arteries. 

Kile’s father died shortly after a heart attack in his mid-40s in 1993.