Cause of death revealed for 19-year-old Air Force Academy cadet found dead in her dorm room

By Lauren Elkies Schram – Published Oct. 5, 2024, – New York Post

My cmnt: This absolutely s/h never happened to this young woman. What a shame. I assume, we do not know of course, that she was trying to compete with males and wanted to show her toughness when she s/h been resting and taking meds. Once again Libness raises its ugly head. Throwing males and females together in physical competition is just sick. As I understand it the academies have lowered their physical standards – just like firefighters and police – to accommodate females in predominately male professions.

A US Air Force Academy cadet found lifeless in her Colorado dorm room last month died of pneumonia — a tragedy that could have been prevented, according to one medical expert.

Avery Koonce, 19, of Tyler, Texas, died Sept. 4 as the result of “paeniclostridium sordelli sepsis complicating parainfluenza laryngotraceobronchitis,” according to an autopsy report from the El Paso County Coroner’s Office.

“In essence she died of untreated pneumonia,” said famed forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden, who reviewed the autopsy report obtained by The Post.

The coroner described paeniclostridium sordelli as a “relatively rare but potentially fatal anaerobic bacteria” that is “associated with a toxic shock-like syndrome that can rapidly progress to death.” But it was “secondary” to the parainfluenza — or viral lung infection — the coroner’s report found.

United States Air Force Academy Cadet 4th Class Avery Koonce smiles inher uniform with trees behind her.
United States Air Force Academy Cadet Avery Koonce was found unconscious in her dorm room. Family photo

Baden, the former chief medical examiner of NYC, theorized the bacteria “could have been treated with penicillin” and the virus could have been addressed with fluids and antibodies.

“She first had the viral infection that diminished her immunity, so the bacteria were able to flourish,” he explained, adding that her death was not related to any “preexisting abnormality.”

In the days before Koonce’s demise, she likely would have shown symptoms, such as coughing, fever and difficulty breathing, he said.

Avery Koonce, in her US Air Force Academy cadet uniform
Avery Koonce was a member of the US Air Force Academy’s Class of 2028 and an athlete on its Women’s Track and Field team. Ben Ploetz/Facebook

The autopsy report found the first-year cadet had a chronic cough that got worse.

Still, “it was a curable situation with antibiotics,” said Baden, noting that sometimes sick people don’t seek treatment because they don’t realize how sick they actually are.

The El Paso coroner declined to comment. Koonce’s family and the Academy didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Avery Koonce competes in the Class 2A pole vault at the UIL State Track and Field meet.
Koonce had been very successful on her high track and field team. Angela Piazza/Corpus Christi Caller-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Koonce was a high school track star who was a member of the academy’s track and field team.

A sprinter at Thrall High School in Taylor, Texas, she ran 100 meters in 12.12 seconds and 200 meters in 25.67 seconds.

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“Our daughter Cadet Avery Koonce was an incredible bright light in this broken world,” Koonce’s parents, Eric and Kelly Koonce, said in a statement released by the academy a few days after her tragic death. “Our lives will forever be diminished because of her absence.”

My cmnt: Click the link below to see man who fought off and killed an attacking brown bear with only his pistol. Good thing he was carrying!

https://nypost.com/2024/08/22/us-news/hunter-accidentally-shot-himself-while-stopping-bear-attack/

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