The unexpected passing of 19-year-old Avery Koonce has profoundly impacted her community, and an autopsy has now revealed the cause of her de*th. A cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Avery was found unresponsive in her Colorado dorm room on September 4, prompting investigations into her sudden demise.
Originally from Thrall, Texas, Avery was honored during a memorial service on September 12, where attendees were encouraged to wear pink in her memory. The ceremony took place at the local school district’s stadium, where Air Force Academy cadets presented her parents, Eric and Kelly Koonce, with her track shoes.
In a heartfelt statement following her death, Avery’s parents expressed, “Our daughter Cadet Avery Koonce was an incredibly bright light in this broken world.”
According to the recently released coroner’s report from El Paso County, obtained by PEOPLE, Avery contracted a rare but potentially lethal anaerobic bacterium called Paeniclostridium sordellii, which led to sepsis and worsened an underlying acute viral lower respiratory tract infection. The report indicated that the bacterium “can cause serious disease or death,” particularly in cases involving airway infections, and is associated with a toxic shock-like syndrome that can quickly prove fatal.
Avery’s left lung displayed signs of acute inflammation, and she had reportedly experienced a severe cough in the days preceding her death, as noted in the report.
Forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden reviewed the autopsy findings and shared his insights with the New York Post, stating, “In essence, she died of untreated pneumonia,” emphasizing that this tragic outcome could have been prevented. He speculated that the bacterial infection “could have been treated with penicillin,” while the viral infection might have been managed with fluids and antibodies.
Avery was highly regarded in her community, having graduated from Thrall High School earlier this year, where she was active in cross country, cheerleading, powerlifting, and various extracurricular activities. Last year, she received a nomination to the U.S. Air Force Academy from Congressman Pete Sessions.
After her passing, Sessions spoke to local media, recalling Avery’s aspirations: “[Avery] said ‘I want to be a pilot. I want to fly.’ She was everybody’s favorite daughter in Texas, representing not just Thrall but Texas at the United States Air Force Academy.”