Autopsies inconclusive in marathon runners' deaths

Oralandar Brand-Williams / The Detroit News

Detroit -- Autopsies were conducted today on the bodies of the three men who died in the Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Marathon.

Preliminary results are inconclusive and more testing is needed before the Wayne County Medical Examiner can determine the cause of the men's deaths. Toxicology reports are pending.

Rick Brown, 65, of Marietta, Ohio; Daniel Langdon, 36, of Laingsburg; and Jon Fenlon, 26, of Waterford all died within about 20 minutes of each other after collapsing while participating in the race event's half-marathon.

Detroit Police spokesman John Roach said it appears the men died as a result of cardiac arrest.

Meanwhile, memorial services are being finalized for Langdon. Viewing will be 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the Watkins Funeral Home, 203 E 1st N Street in Laingsburg. Arrangements for the memorial service for Langdon are still being planned.

A fund has been set up for Langdon's three small children. Donations can be sent to the Daniel Langdon Memorial, c/o Citizens Bank, 5503 Round Lake Road, Laingsburg, MI., 48848.

Langdon died on his birthday.

"The family is grief-stricken," said Vicki Lange, a family friend. "They were not anticipating that a young man who trained for a year in advance of the marathon would collapse and die."

Family and friends say Langdon, who owned a custom-home building business, loved to hunt throughout Michigan and taught his young sons to hunt. They say he especially liked to hunt deer, pheasants and turkey.

The three men were running the 13.1-mile half-marathon and had signed medical release forms, a standard procedure for most marathon races. Marathon spokesman Rich Harshbarger said there are no plans to make changes to the form, but organizers plan to talk with medical professionals for advice on future races.

bwilliams@detnews.com (313) 222-2027