Ruling issued on cause of death for Canyon student

Medical Examiner: Logan Davidson died of blunt force trauma to the head

Logan Davidson (Photo courtesy: Davidson family)

SAN ANTONIO – The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office has ruled that a Canyon High School sophomore died of blunt force trauma to the head that led to bleeding in the brain from a lacerated artery.

"Traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage due to a vertebral artery, due to blunt force trauma to the head," the medical examiner's office said in its ruling on the death of Logan Davidson.

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Capt. John McDonald of the New Braunfels Police Department said Friday that Davidson was punched twice in the head, causing him to strike the wall behind him.

Dr. Rachel Garvin, a head trauma expert with UT Medicine who had heard about the case, said, "It's hard to know whether it as just the blunt force itself or in terms of the blood vessel that ruptured, whether it was a combination of the two."

An emergency room physician who specializes in neurocritical care said she has seen that type of injury before, typically from traffic accidents.

"You can have the head going down or head coming back. The brain moves back and forth. It causes a lot of stress and tension in the blood vessels as well," Garvin said.

As a result, she said the vessels that travel up through the brain can tear or rupture, causing bleeding in the brain and dangerous swelling.

McDonald also said several student cellphone videos of Tuesday morning's incident are being held as evidence in the case.

Online reports of an alleged history of bullying between Davidson and the teen being held in connection with the death has not been verified by police or the Comal Independent School District.

A vigil was held Thursday night to remember Logan.

A moment of silence in honor of Logan will be observed before Canyon's bi-district playoff game against Reagan at Heroes Stadium on Friday night.

The following funeral arrangements have been scheduled:

Visitation will be held Sunday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Doeppenschmidt Funeral Home in New Braunfels at 189 N. Seguin Ave.

A funeral will be held Monday at 10:30 a.m. at Oakwood Baptist Church, 2154 Loop 337 (near New Braunfels High School). Burial will follow at Hill Country Memorial Gardens, 11700 Highway 46 between Bulverde and New Braunfels.

A funeral home spokesman said due to a high number of mourners expected at the events, mourners are asked to try to find people to ride together in vehicles to reduce traffic congestion.


About the Author:

Jessie Degollado has been with KSAT since 1984. She is a general assignments reporter who covers a wide variety of stories. Raised in Laredo and as an anchor/reporter at KRGV in the Rio Grande Valley, Jessie is especially familiar with border and immigration issues. In 2007, Jessie also was inducted into the San Antonio Women's Hall of Fame.