An autopsy released Wednesday morning ruled the death of UNC assistant track and field coach Antonio Pettigrew to be a suicide.
Police found Pettigrew dead in his car in Chatham County early in the morning of Aug. 10. He was 42 years old.
The investigation report said that Pettigrew had been dealing with stress at work and that he had been suffering neck pain and prostate problems prior to his death, though it did not reveal any financial issues.
“Antonio’s death was a tragic loss for his family, friends and members of the track community, including the Carolina track and field program,” UNC track and field head coach Dennis Craddock said in a statement. “Our prayers continue to be with his family and everyone who loved Antonio as they deal with that loss.”
The report by Deborah Radisch of the N.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, lists the official cause of death as diphenhydramine toxicity.
Diphenhydramine is used to treat allergies and sleep loss, and is the active ingredient in Unisom, a sleeping pill that Pettigrew had an open bottle of in his car the morning he was found.
According to the medical examiner’s investigation report, Pettigrew left for work the morning before he was found between 10:15 and 10:30 a.m. At 11 a.m., he called his wife and told her to pray for him when they hung up.
Fellow North Carolina track and field coaches Peter Watson and Raymond Langley called the police at 3:15 a.m., concerned that Pettigrew had not shown up to work the previous day.
UNC associate athletic director Steve Kirschner said Wednesday night that Pettigrew’s assistant coaches declined to comment.
