Keli McGregor, late Rockies president: Autopsy and toxicology report could take months longer

On April 20, Colorado Rockies president Keli McGregor was found dead in a Salt Lake City hotel room. He was just 48 and apparently in terrific health. Nevertheless, the Salt Lake medical examiner's office still hasn't released an autopsy and toxicology report and may not do so for another month...

By Michael Roberts

June 23, 2010

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

On April 20, Colorado Rockies president Keli McGregor was found dead in a Salt Lake City hotel room. He was just 48 and apparently in terrific health.

Nevertheless, the Salt Lake medical examiner's office still hasn't released an autopsy and toxicology report and may not do so for another month or more from now.

According to Dennis McGowan, a public information officer with the Salt Lake City Police Department, the medical examiner anticipated that the report wouldn't be completed eight to twelve weeks after McGregor's death, "and we're at about week nine right now." He adds that it "could possibly take as much as twelve to sixteen weeks."

Why so long? A March 8 Denver Post piece presciently titled "Toxicology Results on Keli McGregor Still Weeks Away" quotes another SLCPD spokesperson, Sgt. Robin Snyder, who explained that evidence is expedited when foul play is suspected -- and that's not the case with McGregor. She told the paper that "because this is not a suspicious death, it will be low on a priority list."

But probably few in Colorado expected it to be this low.

KEEP WESTWORD FREE... Since we started Westword, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.

Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

Contact: Michael Roberts

Follow:

Facebook: 111180895657427

Twitter: @mikerobertscolo