Charlbi Dean: Actress Cause of Death Established
Four months after Charlbi Dean’s death, the official cause of death has been established.
People reports that the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said the South African actress died of bacterial sepsis caused by “a complication from asplenia” (the absence of a spleen) due to “distant severe trauma to her torso.”
On December 21st, a spokeswoman for the coroner’s office told the publication that sepsis was brought on by an infection with the bacterium Capnocytophaga. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that dogs and cats can spread Capnocytophaga to humans through bites, scratches, licks, and other forms of intimate contact. Those who lack a spleen or have autoimmune disorders are at a higher risk of contracting these illnesses.
Although it was considered an accident, it is unknown whether the Black Lightning star contracted her fatal infection from an animal bite or lick. Her complete autopsy results have not been released by the medical examiner.
On August 29th, at age 32, Dean passed away in New York City. A representative for the actress at the time confirmed to NBC News that the actress had died of “an unexpected abrupt illness,” but no other information was given.
Dean’s spleen was removed after she was in a “horrible, very terrible vehicle accident” around 2009, as her brother Alex Jacobs previously revealed to Rolling Stone. In addition, he mentioned that his sister was hurt in the crash and that she had broken ribs and her back.
As stated by Jacobs on August 31st, “[the spleen is] engaged in fighting off infections, and that could have been a factor.” She may not have been able to mount an effective defence since “her spleen wasn’t there.”
Jacobs also described the final 24 hours of his sister’s life, saying that Dean had “minor” symptoms and had asked her fiancé, Luke Volker, to take her to the hospital. Few hours later, she passed away.
“This happened literally within the span of a day: getting a headache, going to sleep, waking up her boyfriend and saying please take me to the hospital.” Her brother informed