Colorado Springs, CO – Avery Koonce, a 19-year-old cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy, was found lifeless in her dorm room on September 4, with an autopsy revealing that she died from pneumonia, a situation that medical experts believe could have been prevented.
The autopsy report from the El Paso County Coroner’s Office indicated that Koonce’s death was the result of “paeniclostridium sordelli sepsis complicating parainfluenza laryngotracheobronchitis.”
Renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden, who reviewed the autopsy findings, stated, “In essence, she died of untreated pneumonia.”
He described paeniclostridium sordelli as a “relatively rare but potentially fatal anaerobic bacteria” linked to a toxic shock-like syndrome that can lead to rapid death. However, the bacteria was deemed “secondary” to the parainfluenza, a viral lung infection noted in the coroner’s report.
Dr Baden theorised that penicillin could have treated the bacterial infection and that fluids and antibodies might have addressed the viral infection.
He explained, “She first had the viral infection that diminished her immunity, so the bacteria were able to flourish,” adding that Koonce’s death was not linked to any “preexisting abnormality.”
In the days leading up to her death, Koonce likely exhibited symptoms such as coughing, fever, and difficulty breathing, according to Dr. Baden. The autopsy report indicated that the first-year cadet had a chronic cough that worsened over time.
“It was a curable situation with antibiotics,” Baden asserted, noting that individuals often do not seek treatment because they may not recognise the severity of their condition.
The El Paso County coroner declined to provide additional comments regarding the case. Koonce’s family and the U.S. Air Force Academy did not respond to requests for comment following the tragic incident.
Avery Koonce was a standout high school athlete on the academy’s track and field team. A sprinter at Thrall High School in Taylor, Texas, she achieved impressive times of 12.12 seconds in the 100 meters and 25.67 seconds in the 200 meters.
In a heartfelt statement released by the academy shortly after her death, Koonce’s parents, Eric and Kelly Koonce, expressed their sorrow, saying, “Our daughter Cadet Avery Koonce was an incredibly bright light in this broken world. Our lives will forever be diminished because of her absence.”
