Gerrard Kaonga
The passing of 19-year-old Avery Koonce has naturally shaken her community, and an autopsy has now revealed what exactly caused her death.
Avery Koonce, a US Air Force Academy cadet, was found lifeless in her Colorado dorm room last month on September 4, with questions about her death quickly being sparked.
Avery, from Thrall, Texas, was remembered by her small town in a memorial service on September 12 where mourners were asked to wear pink.
According to local reports, during the ceremony at the school district’s stadium, Air Force Academy cadets presented Avery’s parents, Eric and Kelly Koonce, with her track shoes.
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In a statement following their daughter’s death, the parents said: “Our daughter Cadet Avery Koonce was an incredible bright light in this broken world.
“Our lives will forever be diminished because of her absence.”
The newly released coroner’s report from the El Paso County coroner’s office, obtained by PEOPLE, confirmed that Avery had a ‘relatively rare’ but potentially fatal anaerobic bacteria called Paeniclostridium sordellii, that caused sepsis and complicated an underlying, acute viral lower respiratory tract infection.
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The coroner’s office added that the bacteria ‘can cause serious disease or death in various clinical settings including airway infection’. It is also 'associated with a toxic shock-like syndrome that can rapidly progress to death'.
Avery's left lung 'exhibited histologic evidence of acute inflammation'. She had been battling a severe cough in the days before her death on Sept. 4, per the report.
Forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden reviewed the autopsy and spoke to the New York Post about his conclusions from it.
He said: "In essence she died of untreated pneumonia," and noted that the tragedy could have been prevented.
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Baden theorized the issue ‘could have been treated with penicillin’ and the virus could have been addressed with fluids and antibodies.
Avery had built up quite a reputation in her community and had graduated from Thrall High School earlier this year. While there she had run cross country, was a cheerleader, competed in powerlifting competitions and still had time for other extracurricular activities.
Last year, she had even received a nomination to the USAFA from Congressman Pete Sessions.
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Speaking to local media following the teen’s death, Sessions said: “[Avery] said 'I want to be a pilot. I want to fly'.
"It was everybody's favorite daughter in Texas who would be representing not just Thrall but Texas at the United States Air Force Academy."
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