Note: We are republishing this story, which originally made the news in October 2024.

Air Force Academy Cadet Dies of Treatable Pneumonia, Autopsy Reveals

Avery Koonce, a 19-year-old cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy, tragically died in her dorm room on September 4, 2024, from complications related to pneumonia — a condition medical experts say was treatable.

Koonce, originally from Tyler, Texas, was found unresponsive in her Colorado dorm. An autopsy by the El Paso County Coroner’s Office determined the cause of death as “paeniclostridium sordellii sepsis complicating parainfluenza laryngotracheobronchitis” — a rare and aggressive bacterial infection triggered by a viral illness. Essentially, it was a case of pneumonia that progressed without proper treatment.

Renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden, who reviewed the findings, stated, “In essence, she died of untreated pneumonia.” He explained that the parainfluenza virus weakened her immune defenses, allowing the rare paeniclostridium sordellii bacteria to invade, leading to sepsis — a life-threatening response to infection.

Dr. Baden noted that while p. sordellii infections are uncommon, especially in young healthy individuals, this case was not linked to any pre-existing health condition. “This was preventable,” he said, emphasizing that basic medical care — timely antibiotics and fluids — could likely have saved her life.

Koonce’s death has raised serious questions about access to healthcare within military academies and the importance of recognizing and treating respiratory infections promptly. Friends and family remember Avery as driven, bright, and full of potential, her future in service tragically cut short.

As investigations continue, her story serves as a stark reminder: even rare infections can be deadly — and preventable — with timely intervention and awareness.