IFWT_Kosta Karageorge

Missing Ohio State football player found dead Sunday of what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Columbus Police confirmed.

Shay Marie

Sgt. Richard Weiner said Kosta Karageorge, who had been missing since Wednesday after sending a text message about concussions, was found in a dumpster near campus with a gun.

Karageorge was 22.

The 6-5, 285-pound defensive tackle had tattoos that helped confirm the death, Columbus police said. An official police report is expected later this week.

Karageorge’s mother told authorities he has had concussions and spells of confusion, an earlier police report said. She said he texted a message Wednesday citing the concussions and saying he was sorry if he was “an embarrassment.”

Julian Bailes, neurosurgeon with the NorthShore Neurological Institute of suburban Chicago, said it is too early and the information is too incomplete to speculate on whether the death was related to concussions or the brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

“It’s somewhat conjecture to think that’s what led to his (apparent) suicide. We just don’t know,” said Bailes, a CTE researcher. “He is certainly not the typical CTE guy, only in college and so forth. So you don’t know.

“The other things, which are often associated with suicide, are mental health issues and/or drug or substance abuse. I just don’t know. I just read a little bit about it the day he went a missing.

USA Today