Orleans Parish coroner releases statement on Cole Whaley's death

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Tuesday, the Orleans Parish coroner released an announcement about the death of former Spanish Fort High student and basketball player Cole Whaley, who died over the weekend in New Orleans.

In the statement, Dr. Jeffrey Rouse said Whaley was identified as the decedent in an incident that occurred in the early morning of Saturday, Feb. 11 at the DoubleTree Hotel on Canal Street.

"According to NOPD reports, the decedent fell through a closed 11th story hotel window and landed on the ground in an outdoor area located on the 4th floor near the hotel's pool. Findings from the autopsy performed by my office on Mr. Whaley reveal injuries consistent with reported circumstances including multiple skull fractures and subdural hemorrhage,” Dr. Rouse wrote. “Mr. Whaley's preliminary cause of death is classified as 'blunt force injuries.' The final cause and manner of death remain under investigation, pending toxicology test results."

Funeral details for Whaley were also announced. His funeral will be held Wednesday, Feb. 15 at the sanctuary of Spanish Fort United Methodist Church.

Visitation will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and the funeral will begin at 1:30 p.m.

Whaley was a student at the University of Southern Mississippi, where he was an honors student with a full academic scholarship, majoring in Finance/Accounting. He was a member of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity.

He was a 2015 graduate of Spanish Fort High School, where he excelled with honors. He was passionate about his favorite sports, basketball and soccer.

He is survived by his mother, Susan Heim Whaley of Spanish Fort, Alabama; and father, Dr. Alan Whaley of Daphne; his twin sister, Caroline Mathis Whaley of Spanish Fort; and brother, Carson Foster Whaley of Spanish Fort; maternal grandparents, Tom and Pat Heim; and paternal grandmother, Wilma Whaley, all of Louisville, Kentucky; aunts, Sherryl McCurry (Doug) of Louisville and Janet Cromer (Walter) of Knoxville, Tennessee; uncles, Steve Heim of Louisville, Kentucky and Jim Whaley (Kathy) of Baltimore, Maryland; numerous cousins, many relatives and loving friends.