By Turner Cowles, News 20 at 5 Correspondent
ORLANDO—Former drum major Robert Champion’s autopsy report was released just minutes ago by the District Nine Medical Examiner’s Office.
The manner of death listed on the report stands on a line of its own: Homicide.
The cause of death is listed as “hemorrhagic shock due to soft tissue hemorrhage due to blunt force trauma sustained during a hazing incident.”
In plain English, he was beaten to death.
“Mr. Robert Champion, a previously healthy 26-year-old member of the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University marching band, collapsed and died within an hour of a hazing incident during which he suffered multiple blunt trauma blows to his body,” said the report.
The autopsy showed extensive bruising on his chest, arms, shoulder and back.
During the weekend of Champion’s death, his father said he had no previous health concerns. The autopsy reveals he had a slightly enlarged heart.
The toxicology for Champion showed no signs of drugs or alcohol in his system at the time of death.
No charges have been filed yet.
View the autopsy report in its entirety here.
Turner G. Cowles 