Blocked artery eyed in Kile death

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Posted 9:15AM on Monday, June 24, 2002

CHICAGO - St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Darryl Kile likely died from a blockage of a coronary artery, Cook County's chief medical examiner said Sunday. Dr. Edmund Donoghue said initial findings of an autopsy showed Kile had ``80-to-90 percent narrowing of two of the three branches of the coronary artery.'' He said the blockage was the ``likely cause of death.'' Kile, 33, was found dead in the team hotel Saturday. Police said there were no signs of forced entry and no signs of foul play. Donoghue said a final autopsy report could take from 4-to-6 weeks because he still wants to study toxicology reports. He gave no indication Sunday that drugs or illegal substances were involved in Kile's death. ``The complete results are pending,'' Donoghue said. Donoghue also said ``possible marijuana'' was found in the hotel room, but quickly added, ``I want to make it very clear it had nothing to do with his death.'' Asked about Donoghue's mention of marijuana, Chicago police spokeswoman Officer JoAnn Taylor said: ``Our reports show that there is no evidence of narcotics in the room. If there was some contraband, the police would not hold back on that. We'd have to inventory that.'' 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. Dr. Jim Loomis, the Cardinals' assistant team physician, said Saturday that the 6-foot-5 pitcher had no known health problems and was not on medication. About two hours before Saturday's game against the Cubs was scheduled to begin, Cardinals players realized Kile was not at the ballpark and called the hotel to ask that he be checked on. Workers at the downtown Westin Hotel forced their way into Kile's 11th-floor room because of the safety latch on the door. Saturday's game between the Cardinals and Chicago Cubs was postponed. Later that night, the Cardinals unanimously voted at a team meeting to play Sunday night in Kile's honor. Kile had been scheduled to start Sunday. Kile's name and No. 57 were displayed on the marquee outside Wrigley Field and on the scoreboard inside the park Sunday. The U.S. flag was at half-mast, and all music except the national anthem was canceled. There was to be a moment of silence for Kile before the national anthem. There were to be no public address announcements during the game except for players coming to bat and lineup changes. The Cubs also canceled usual festivities such as honorary first pitches and the traditional singing of ``Take Me Out to the Ball Game.''