CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against the fiancee of former Cincinnati Bengal Chris Henry following his 2009 death in Charlotte. Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. The police who are still investigating I gather might tell a different story than Miss Tonga. I want you to watch the video and then I will give you my thoughts: ET. Previous article: Medical examiner releases autopsy report for Chris Henry, But according to the lawsuit, Tonga was aware that Henry "was standing in the truck bed in a position of helpless peril" and that "any sudden movement of the truck would cause [Henry] to be thrown from the truck. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (CBS/AP) - Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry has died after "battling for his life" following an accident Wednesday that led to him falling out of the back of a pickup truck. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Henry wasthe Cincinnati Bengals receiver who died after falling out of the bed of a pickup truckdriven by Tonga on Dec. 16, during what police say was a domestic dispute. ", "Mr. Henry suffered conscious mental anguish as he was flung from the pickup truck," the suit states. Henry was labeled a problem child after multiple run ins with referees and police alike throughout his football career but had recently found a new lease on his professional life after the Cincinatti Begals decided to give him a second chance. Copyright 2023 BSO Entertainment LLC giving you a summary view of the top headlines from the top news sites. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Pacman Jones adopts sons of former Bengals wide receiver, More than $1.1 billion in sports bets made by Ohioans in January, Play of the Week: West Chester 8-year-old hits buzzer-beater, died in December of 2009 after falling from his fianc's pick-up truck. Loleini Tonga known as Leini to her friends had an exclusive interview with ESPN yesterday and spoke on the events that lead to Henrys death. All rights reserved. Tonga says Henry "jumped" from the back of the truck that she was driving . Henrys cause of death was blunt force trauma to the back of the head, if you jump out of a truck you arent going to jump backwards meaning your injuries in most cases would be in the front not the back of your body. A portion of the interview, conducted by reporter John Barr,will be shown on SportsCenter, ESPNEWS and other platforms today. Tonga's parents live in Charlotte. RottenTomatoes. } His fianc, Loleini Tonga, told ESPN Henry jumped from the back of the truck while the two were arguing. It is hard enough to jump out of a moving vehicle with two good arms it would be impossible to brace your fall with a broken forearm. Explosive found in checked luggage at Pennsylvania airport, feds say Henry was declared brain dead 18 hours later. The filing also ask that a jury decide in the case. Henry, the Bengals 2005 third-round pick, died in December of 2009 after falling from his fianc's pick-up truck in North Carolina. Loleini Tonga, the mother of two of Henry's three children, was driving the truck along Oakdale Road in December 2009, when the 26-year-old Henry fell out of the bed of the truck. In cooperation with Loleini Tonga, the mother of Henry's children and his fiance at the time, Jones has had a hand in raising Henry's boys and is now their adopted father. Need Photos? Henry and Pacman were college teammates at West Virginia University. 3- She claims she didnt stop because she couldnt. Loleini Tonga was engaged to be married to Henry after a long relationship and had given birth to three of his children. The State Department said in a statement Wednesday night it had approved sales of missiles to be used with the F-16s as well as equipment to support the missiles. @REALPACMAN24 tears up while talking about adopting Chris Henrys kids:We love each other hard. By clicking Subscribe Now, you agree to our. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Police have said Tonga was driving the vehicle after a "domestic dispute" between the two. Loleini Tonga - Find news stories, facts, pictures and video about Loleini Tonga - Page 1 | Newser. The full autopsy and toxicology reports were released by the Mecklenburg County medical examiner's office Tuesday, nearly six months after Henry died when he came out of the back of a pickup truck driven by his fiancee. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Homicide Unit . Even though they are actually 400 million miles apart, Jupiter and Venus are so close tonight, it looks like they could collide. ESPN's Outside the Lines obtained the first media interview on Monday with Loleini Tonga, the fiance of the late Chris Henry. Please enter valid email address to continue. Loleini Tonga, fiancee of Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry, holds their daugther, Seini, before a memorial service for Henry in Westwego, La., Tuesday. Following his All-Pro wideout's 1,809-yard, 128-catch, eight-touchdown campaign, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell believes Justin Jefferson can soar even higher. The medical examiner said "the cause of death in this case is blunt force head trauma due to a fall from a motor vehicle" and ruled it as accidental. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Loleini Tonga Myspace Pictures Loleini Tonga Photo 1 Loleini Tonga Photo 2 The report, which was signed off by Mecklenburg County medical examiner Dr. Christopher Gulledge on Friday, indicated Henry suffered numerous head injuries, including a fractured skull and brain hemorrhaging. The police still have an open investigation in regards to the tragic incident. Henry was unresponsive when paramedics arrived. .component--type-recirculation .item:nth-child(5) { ), Henrys fiance Loleini Tonga is speaking publicly for the first time about the incident and claims he wasnt thrown from the moving vehicle but instead had elected to jump, apparently assuming he would be able to survive. Know more in just minutes with our free newsletters. She also has a post from Dec. 15 talking about buying wedding rings. North Carolina police have released the Chris Henry 911 calls, and there's a notable absence: there's not one call from Henry's fiance Loleini Tonga. On Tonga's MySpace page she identifies herself as "Mrs. C. Henry" and has a picture of her next to a person who appears to be Henry. Here is the interview with ESPNs John Barr. HER FIRST INTERVIEW Jan 5, 2010 8:34 AM CST. He was on leave from the team after a season-ending injury when he died. A 911 caller told a dispatcher she saw a shirtless man wearing a cast "beating on the back of this truck window." In an interview with ESPN's "Outside the Lines" Loleini Tonga spoke about her fiancee Chris Henry's death, TMZ reported. 20 Loleini Tonga Premium High Res Photos Browse 20 loleini tonga stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Loleini Tonga, the mother of two of Henry's three children, was driving the truck along Oakdale Road in December 2009, when the 26-year-old Henry fell out of the bed of the truck. "It just comes with time, you know?" Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Loleini Tonga, fiancee of Chris Henry, will not face any charges stemming from the incident that led to his death. I want you to watch the video and then I will give you my thoughts: I have some serious issues with some of her comments in the interview: Her reasoning for him jumping was because he might have saw someone calling the police. WEB EXTRA: Click here to read the full lawsuit A later 911 caller said he saw an unresponsive man laying on a curvy, residential road about eight miles northwest of downtown Charlotte. Henry is survived by three children and girlfriend Loleini Tonga. Tue, 01/05/2010 - 2:37am. Please include the title when you click here to report it. Henry and Loleini Tonga also have a daughter, Seini. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Chris Henry on Chris Henry and fiancee Loleini Tonga - YouTube 0:00 / 2:00 Chris Henry on Chris Henry and fiancee Loleini Tonga cincinnatidotcom 7.04K subscribers Subscribe 128K views 13. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. . DNA leads to arrest over 40 years after woman found dead in cornfield Loleini Tonga known as Leini to her friends had an exclusive interview with ESPN yesterday and spoke on the events that lead to Henry's death. Police say that Henry was rushed to the hospital Dec. 16 after being found on a residential road near Charlotte. CINCINNATI (WXIX) - Adam Pacman Jones has adopted the sons of his good friend and former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver, Chris Henry. Loleini Tonga's friend, Lori, talks about Loleini's relationship with Chris Henry in a 2009 interview in Charlotte, N.C. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Adopting Henrys sons is something Pacman said had been in the works for a few years. A neighbor said Wednesday that the Tonga family owns the home where police say the incident began. His numbers for the Bengals in 2009 were decent, 12 receptions and 2 TDs produing 236 yards. Just for safety reasons most roads have some sort of shoulder. display: none; 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Rape kits from two women lead to arrest in 1979 murder of one of them NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. When asked why she didnt stop the truck her answer was: There arent many streets in the United States that dont have a place for you to pull over. he said. "Mrs. C. Henry" is a 25-year-old with ties to Ohio, Louisiana and North Carolina. If he wasnt suicidal why would he risk jumping out of moving truck. Henry's brain was taken to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for further examination and also was donated to a group studying brain injuries among professional football players. According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, Henry and Tonga were arguing at a home owned by Tonga's family on Peachtree Road when Tonga attempted to drive away. After a troubled history with the law (five arrests in an 18-month span a few years ago), NFL star Chris Henry seemed to be coming back from the brink. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry died December 16th after an argument with fiance Loleini Tonga. Now, homocide detectives have been assigned to the case, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg police spokesperson Rosalyn Harrington. ". "While it is impossible to know the decedent's intent upon leaving the vehicle, whether it represented an intentional jump or an unintentional fall, either act would be classified as an accident," the report said. 1 2 NEXT Topics: chris henry cincinnati bengals loleini tonga espn dec charlotte n.c she previously nfl henry tonga jumped truck argument day police Add new comment Original article Share News Clip 1 2 NEXT Henry and Pacman were college teammates at West Virginia University. The toxicology report didn't include any other tests for drugs. All rights reserved. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. He credited much of his. It just doesnt seem logical for him to just jump out of moving vehicle without knowing he was going to injure himself. 15 2013, Updated 9:30 p.m. . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Yet the story took a turn on Thursday according to the Cincinnati Enquirer: The estate of former Bengal Chris Henry filed a wrong death lawsuit in North Carolina, accusing Henry's fiancee of. Henry's fiance Loleini Tonga is speaking publicly for the first time about the incident and claims he wasn't thrown from the moving vehicle but instead had elected to jump, apparently assuming. Paid 4 ouR riNgs. #inline-recirc-item--id-d46ccb54-8c88-11e2-b06b-024c619f5c3d ~ .item:nth-child(5) { "I learned to handle all situations, so I'll be all right. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. MWB, Police are investigating, but no. (Listen to the 911 call made by a woman following the truck just before the accident HERE. His fianc, Loleini Tonga, told ESPN Henry jumped from the back of the truck while the two were arguing. After hearing about Caleb Grill's mental-health struggles, the remainder of ISU's basketball season doesn't seem so important anymore. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Loleini Tonga will not receive charges from her fiancee Chris Henry's fall, from the bed of the truck which she was driving, that led to the NFL player's death. ESPNs Outside the Linesobtainedthe firstmedia interviewon Monday with Loleini Tonga, the fiance ofthe late Chris Henry. Jun. I wont speak on it unless the police investigation is complete or someone involved in the situation speaks publicly about it. 2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Loleini Tonga's friend, Lori, talks about Loleini's relationship with Chris Henry in a 2009 interview in Charlotte, N.C. By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Loleini Tonga tells ESPN that she thinks Henry thought he would land safely and may have been scared because he saw someone calling the police. Police said at some point when she was driving, Henry "came out of the back of the vehicle." He was in the back of a moving truck it, would be almost impossible for him to know if someone was calling anyone unless it was Miss Tonga who threatened to call police and she says clearly that it wasnt her. Tonga attempted to leave in a pickup truck and Chris Henry jumped in the back. Henrys death in 2009 was caused by blunt force trauma and ruled an accident by the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiners Office. 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Tonga, who claimed in an interview with ESPN that Henry jumped from the truck, wasn't charged. Seini Tonga walks up to the casket of Cincinnati Bengals player Chris Henry during his funeral at the Alario Center on December 22, 2009 in Westwego,. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. According to TMZ, Police in Charlotte, NC wrapped up their investigation of the incident today and said they, "determined that there was no evidence of reckless driving or excessive speed by Ms. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. He was taken to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte where he remained for 18 hours "before being declared brain dead" the medical report said. Click the logo and sign up for access to the ESPN Images Library. In an interview with the Associated Press just after returning to the locker room for the first time since surgery to fix a fracture, Henry sounded confident he could get through the latest setback. With the Detroit Pistons trailing by two with 9.7 seconds left, Jaden Ivey called a timeout they didn't have, ending any hopes of a comeback at LCA. Senh Duong (Founder)Wopular, Loleini Tonga's friend, Lori, talks about Loleini's relationship with Chris Henry in a 2009 interview in Charlotte, N.C. Watch Next VIDEO: Cincinnati Bengals snap skid to Browns win, 23-10 Told a dispatcher she saw a shirtless man wearing a cast `` beating on the back of truck! You wo n't want to Miss a moment of the truck while the two were arguing adopting Chris Henrys:... And repeat visits the website, anonymously for breaking news, live,!, you agree to our the incident began domestic dispute '' between two! Find news stories, facts, pictures and video about Loleini Tonga, fiancee of Chris died... 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