Coroner says Wampler died naturally

Junior Christine Wampler, 21, died of natural causes in April while attending a formal hosted by the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity, also known as the Skulls, according to a Louisville, Ky., coroner's office report. Her official cause of death was myocarditis, presumed to be of a viral etiology, said Louisville Deputy Coroner Robert Fraction, reading from the report. \nMyocarditis is a condition in which the heart muscle becomes inflamed and weakened, causing symptoms of heart failure that may resemble a heart attack, according to MedlinePlus, an online medical encyclopedia. The condition can be caused by viral, bacterial and parasitic infections, including influenza and rubella. It is defined as uncommon, and can also be caused by exposure to chemicals and allergic reactions to medications, according to MedlinePlus. \nWampler and her date attended the fraternity formal April 8 in Louisville and were staying overnight at the Seelbach Hotel in the city. Wampler's date found her unresponsive in the bathroom early the next morning and called an ambulance. She was pronounced dead at 9:30 a.m. April 9 at the University of Louisville Hospital, according to an April 11 Indiana Daily Student article. Louisville Metro Police Officer Dwight Mitchell, who originally investigated the death, told the IDS he suspected alcohol was involved, according to the article, but the autopsy reports have proved otherwise.\nWampler's friends said knowing her cause of death will help them find peace. Senior Adam Carr, Wampler's close friend and co-worker, said he was relieved that alcohol did not cause her death.\n"When I had talked to (her date), he said, '(her death) wasn't drinking related, you have to trust me,'" Carr said. "I believed him, but a lot of people didn't. It makes me happy for (him) because people didn't believe him ... I'm glad that it wasn't anything that she could have prevented, but she's still gone."\nTrent Weldy, a graduate student who was a friend and co-worker of both Wampler and Carr, said he was relieved to finally have an explanation for her sudden death.\n"I was glad to have an answer and know what happened," he said. "It's just something that couldn't be avoided. It's a little better because it's not like an accident, it's just something that happened."\nThough the coroner suspects Wampler's case of myocarditis was caused by a virus, Carr and Weldy were uncertain that Wampler had felt ill. Carr said he vaguely remembered her complaining of a cold a week or two prior to attending the formal and Weldy said he didn't remember her being sick at all. In the April 11 IDS article, Mitchell made reference to Wampler not feeling well, but no one could confirm an illness by press time. Also, it is common for victims of myocarditis not to experience symptoms at all, according to MedlinePlus. \nWampler's was the second sudden death caused by a heart problem within that April week. Junior Nichole Birky , also 21, was found dead the morning of April 5 at Delta Zeta sorority. Birky's death was caused by cardiac arrhythmia, an irregular heartbeat or rhythm.\nThough the friends of both girls said knowing the cause of their deaths will help them cope and bring them closure, Carr said the pain of losing his friend is far from gone. \n"Nothing that's said is going to bring her back," he said. "Nothing about that is going to make me feel better, other than the fact that she's in a better place and that I got to spend time with her"