AUSTIN, Texas — An autopsy revealed a 19-year-old cadet from Taylor died from a bacteria that can cause sepsis in rare cases.
Avery Koonce was found unconscious in her dorm room on Sept. 4 at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado. First responders tried to save her life but were unsuccessful.
While her death remained a mystery, an autopsy revealed Koonce died of the relatively rare "Paeniclostridium sordellii sepsis complicating parainfluenza laryngotracheobronchitis."
According to the autopsy, the bacteria was found in her blood and her left lung, which showed a history of acute inflammation. While rare, the autopsy and CDC say the organism can cause severe toxic shock syndrome that can rapidly progress to death.
No drugs or alcohol were detected in Koonce's system, according to the El Paso County toxicology report.
Koonce graduated from Thrall High School in 2024 and enrolled in the Air Force Academy shortly after graduation. She was set to graduate as a member of the class of 2028 and was also a member of the Academy's Women's Track and Field team.
Koonce was honored in March with the Congressional Nomination for the Air Force Academy from Congressman Pete Sessions.
Sessions described Koonce as a "thoughtful and articulate young woman" who was willing to go the extra mile as a track star. That's why Sessions began the process to get Koonce into the academy, which requires a nomination from a member of Congress.
Koonce's parents, Eric and Kelly Koonce, described her as a "bright light in this broken world" and said that their lives "will forever be diminished because of her absence."