Jovan Belcher’s Mother Suing Chiefs for Wrongful Death
In December, 2012, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher killed his girlfriend and then committed suicide. In December, 2013, Belcher’s mother, Cheryl Shepherd, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Chiefs, after having her son’s body exhumed earlier in the month so that his brain could be examined for signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is the degenerative brain disease link to concussions in former pro athletes, including several who committed suicide.
Murder/Suicide in 2012
On December 1, 2012, Belcher shot his girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins, nine times. Their three-month-old daughter Zoey and Belcher’s mother were in the home when the shooting occurred. Belcher apologized to his mother, kissed his daughter, and drove to Arrowhead Stadium, the Chief’s training facility, where he shot himself in the head. He was 25 years old.
Wrongful Death Suit
According to the lawsuit the team knew or should have known that Belcher was showing signs of “cognitive and neuro-psychiatric impairment”, failed to identify and remove him from practice or games after head trauma, and failed to monitor or treat him for neurological dysfunction. It is expected that a wrongful death lawsuit will also be filed on behalf of his daughter, and that the cases will likely be merged.
