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Autopsy Shows Detroit Catholic Central Athlete Died Of Natural Causes

NOVI (WWJ) - An autopsy report has confirmed that the 16-year-old star athlete from Detroit Catholic Central High School who was found dead in December died of natural causes.

David Widzinski, a standout sophomore linebacker on the school's football team, was found unresponsive in his bed by his mother on Dec. 3. An official cause of death was left undetermined for over a month, pending the results of a toxicology test, which finally came back Wednesday.

"The cause of death will go down as 'heart arrhythmia of unknown etiology,'" Sarah Bazzi, a spokeswoman for the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office, told Mlive.com."He died of natural causes."

Bazzi said results from the toxicology report showed that Widzinski was clean, meaning he didn't have any drugs or foreign substances in his system.

Widzinski helped lead the football team into its second straight MHSAA Division 1 championship game last year. Despite the middle linebacker's team-leading 15 tackles, the Shamrocks lost to Detroit Cass Tech 36-21 in the state finals.

Widzinski, who lived with his family in Northville, is survived by his parents, Paul and Barbara; his sister, Emily; and his brother, Stephen. Widzinski is preceded in death by his sister, Kristina Ruth.

In a statement on the school's website, Father John Huber, C.S.B. principal said "The hearts of our CC community have been tugged in several different and painful directions over this past year.

"We are confident in the prayers, love and support of the greater community, as we have already experienced over this past year. We are grateful for the prayers and love of students and families from our fellow Catholic, public and private schools: you are good friends," Huber said.

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