An FBI investigation into the death of Colts owner Jim Irsay has begun. The investigation includes the doctor who provided Irsay with prescription pain pills and ketamine in the final months of his life, the Washington Post’s Will Hobson, Albert Samaha and Sam Fortier report.
A federal grand jury subpoena is seeking information on Irsay’s death, substance abuse and his relationship with Dr. Harry Haroutunian, according to the Post. The subpoena came down earlier this month from the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in Los Angeles. Federal agents visited Indianapolis to interview some figures close to Irsay during his final years, but the Colts have not been contacted by FBI officials, according to ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder.
Irsay died at age 65 last May in Los Angeles. The death certificate indicated Irsay suffered cardiac arrest caused by pneumonia and heart issues. Overseeing Irsay’s treatment, Haroutunian signed the death certificate. No autopsy was performed, and no investigation from the Beverly Hills Police Department commenced.
An August report, however, indicated Irsay — who had battled an addiction to pain medication — relapsed. Irsay had said he’d overcome his addiction, but the Post reports the final months of his life involved him receiving opioid pills and ketamine injections from Haroutuian in amounts that “alarmed several people” close to Irsay.
The previous Post report revealed Haroutunian prescribed Irsay over 200 opioid pills in December 2023, and the report indicated the longtime Colts owner overdosed twice in in a 12-day span that month. Ketamine injections later became part of Haroutunian’s treatment.
“I dedicated 18 months of my life to try to care for him … as a brother, Haroutunian told the Post in August. “We did everything we could to make him as comfortable as possible.”
Ketamine use has been a controversial topic in recent years. The death of actor Matthew Perry led to five people involved in providing him with the drug, two doctors among them, facing criminal charges. Irsay was arrested on two misdemeanor drug charges after a traffic stop in March 2014. A toxicology report revealed the Indianapolis owner had oxycodone and hydrocodone in his system at the time of the OWI arrest. The NFL suspended Irsay for six games during the 2014 season and fined him $500K. Drug tests became part of Irsay’s legal situation in the wake of the arrest.
Irsay’s second December 2023 overdose left him hospitalized for a period of several months, the Post reports. The Colts had said a severe respiratory illness caused Irsay’s hospitalization. Irsay later offered a different explanation by saying he had back surgery. Haroutunian served as the owner’s physician throughout this period. Irsay’s daughters are now in charge of the Colts, with his oldest child — Carlie Irsay-Gordon — in place as the team’s principal owner.
It was pretty obvious all along that he overdosed.I knew the family were lying when they said he didn’t overdose on pills.
GM/head scout/doctor/detective/physic. Is there anything you can’t do?
This should have happened last year. Irsay loved his drugs and had this guy at his beck and call.
Just no concern for his own health and well being. The daughters had to have an inkling and probably felt powerless. Too bad the oldest couldnt learn and take more notes on her father than team operations. Maybe she did and I am being harsh. He probably didnt listen to anyones complaints or concerns.
Go hug someone man, sheesh.
What are you talking about? This had been a problem for Irsay for ten years or more. The NFL slapped his wrist about it, instead of demanding he get the help he needed. I have dealt with different people with drug and alcohol addiction. Have you?