The Passing of Jim Irsay
The passing of Jim Irsay, the former owner of the Indianapolis Colts, has sparked a federal investigation, team officials disclosed on Friday. Irsay, who passed away in May, was initially reported to have died quietly in his sleep, as per statements from the Colts. However, a report by The Washington Post in August brought to light that the esteemed owner had been grappling with a long-term struggle against painkiller addiction, having suffered from three overdoses in the preceding five years before his death.
Investigation Details
In a statement, the Colts acknowledged awareness of the ongoing investigation but noted that they had yet to be contacted by the FBI or receive any subpoenas regarding the matter. The NFL, represented by spokesman Brian McCarthy, refrained from further comment on the situation.
Recent revelations from The Washington Post indicated that a subpoena from a federal grand jury is seeking records connected to Irsay’s death, investigations into his use of both illegal and prescribed substances, and his association with Dr. Harry Haroutunian, an addiction treatment specialist from California. Reportedly, this subpoena was issued by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California at the beginning of this month.
Medical Involvement
The investigation is under scrutiny as the Associated Press attempted to reach Haroutunian for his perspective, given his involvement in prescribing pain medication and ketamine to Irsay shortly before his death. Reports from August mentioned that Irsay had been prescribed ketamine, which is primarily utilized as an anesthetic. This particular detail surfaced after police were called to the Beverly Hills hotel where Irsay died, and it was noted that Dr. Haroutunian was present for the ongoing treatment and had also signed the death certificate.
Official Cause of Death
While the official cause of death was determined to be cardiac arrest resulting from pneumonia and heart complications, there was no autopsy performed, leading Beverly Hills police to conclude their inquiry just days after Irsay’s passing. Following the initial Post article, Irsay’s three daughters, who are now at the helm of the Colts—Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt, and Kalen Jackson—expressed in a public statement that although their father was not perfect, he utilized his voice to combat the stigma surrounding addiction and mental health, advocating for those facing similar challenges.
