An autopsy for an Ohio woman who died two days after she was tear-gassed and pepper-sprayed by police officers during a George Floyd protest in Columbus, Ohio, reveals she died from natural causes.
Sarah Grossman, 22, participated in the May 28 protest and was exposed to tear gas and pepper spray after police discharged it to control the crowd, the Dayton Daily News reported.
It was Grossman’s sister who first suggested that the tear gas was the cause of Grossman’s death on Instagram, but she has since edited her post. The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office said her autopsy confirmed that she died of a coronary artery dissection due to an undiagnosed genetic condition, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. According to the Mayo Clinic, it’s a rare disorder that affects connective tissue, primarily skin, joints, and blood vessel walls.
Grossman was an Ohio State University alumni and held a degree from the school’s Environment, Economy, Development, and Sustainability program.
“Sarah was a fierce but compassionate supporter of environmental issues and social justice,” her family wrote. “Those who knew her will understand what a beautiful soul the world has lost. She lived a short but full life.”
