Jovan Belcher's body is being examined for new clues into the shocking set of slayings a year ago that saw him kill his girlfriend and then turn a gun on himself.
Belcher's family requested his body be exhumed from a cemetery in Bay Shore, N.Y., an attorney told the Kansas City Star.
Under question is whether Belcher had disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a brain disease believed linked to concussions.
On Dec. 1, 2012, Belcher shot and killed Kasandra Perkins. He then drove to the Kansas City Chiefs' facilities at Arrowhead Stadium and killed himself in front of team personnel.
The couple's infant daughter was left orphaned, and observers found himself clueless as to why Belcher, a linebacker, had committed the acts.
The plan: Test Belcher's brain. Bennet Omalu is credited with discovering the brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy. It is a degenerative disease caused by repeated head injuries. It has been linked to depression, dementia, confusion, memory loss, aggression and even suicide in many former NFL players.
"If his brain had been examined (when he died), we'd have a better understanding of why he did what he did," Omalu told the Star. "We would have a better understanding about concussions and playing football, and we would advance the understanding of the science of all of this."
An autopsy found Belcher shot Perkins nine times and was intoxicated at the time.
I always thought the brain and all internal organs were removed first