Nearly a year after Vontae Davis was found lifeless on the floor of his Florida home gym, the former NFL cornerback’s autopsy report sheds new light on his final moments, but leaves the cause of death officially “undetermined.”
Authorities discovered Davis, who played for the Dolphins, Colts, and Bills over a 10-season NFL career, naked, motionless, and alone beside his indoor sauna in Southwest Ranches. A housekeeper found him around 7 a.m. on April 1, 2024. The scene painted a grim picture: foam and a red substance at his mouth, drugs scattered across the mansion, and lacerations likely caused when he collapsed. Despite these signs, Broward County Medical Examiner couldn’t pinpoint a definitive cause of death.
Toxic Mix, Unanswered Questions
The official report, obtained by DailyMail.com, reveals a cocktail of narcotics in Davis’ system, including methamphetamine, MDMA, amphetamines, THC, and MDA. Investigators noted a spoon with burn marks and several pills around the home, along with vomit traces and unidentified substances in the sauna area.
“He was a known illicit drug user,” the report stated, adding that Davis exhibited erratic behavior in his final days. His ex-wife, Meghan Harpe, told investigators he struggled with symptoms linked to chronic traumatic encephalopathy and may have turned to hard drugs to cope. Though the autopsy noted an enlarged heart and signs of fluid in the lungs and brain, it found no visible brain trauma consistent with CTE.
The medical examiner cited “inconsistencies between the scene and autopsy findings” in leaving the cause of death undetermined. Still, the details paint a troubling story of a man wrestling with physical and mental decline after his sudden 2018 NFL retirement.
Davis’ post-football life spiraled. In 2023, police found him asleep on a roadside after crashing his Tesla into a stationary truck. That incident led to a DUI arrest and a $1 million lawsuit. His wellness brand and other ventures showed signs of financial strain just months later.
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Despite the turmoil, Vontae Davis had started working on a documentary with his brother, Super Bowl champion Vernon Davis. “I could not have picked a better little brother,” Vernon told DailyMail.com. “We were the difference makers in our family.” Vontae’s death leaves lingering questions, unfinished legal battles, and a grieving family still looking for answers.
