Former ESPN college football reporter found dead

September 6, 2005

GREEN LAKE, Wis. (AP) -- Adrian Karsten, a former college football sideline reporter for ESPN, was found dead at his home just before he was scheduled to report to federal prison for tax evasion. He was 45.

Karsten was expected to report to a facility in Rochester, Minn., this week to serve an 11-month prison sentence followed by probation after pleading guilty to failing to file federal income tax returns.

Green Lake County sheriff's deputies found Karsten dead in his home in the town of Brooklyn on Friday.

The coroner's office was still investigating the death Tuesday and declined comment, saying the sheriff's department would release more information on Wednesday.

Investigators said there was no indication of foul play and "the death does not appear to be suspicious,'' according to a statement.

Karsten pleaded guilty in March to two counts of failing to file federal income tax returns totaling about $363,000 in income from 2000 and 2002.

Karsten began his career at ESPN as a production assistant in 1983 and was a reporter from 1991-03, ESPN spokesman Michael Humes said. Humes declined to comment on whether Karsten left voluntarily or was fired.

After pleading guilty, Karsten was allowed to "do scouting for the Minnesota Vikings'' in April, according to a letter from his lawyer to the judge.

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news?slug ... &type=lgns

That picture looks more like Boomer Esiason. I thought Karsten had brown hair?

No that's Karsten. I guess he couldn't handle going to the pokie.

Hell it was only 11 months. Not worth dying over.

I met him a few years ago...I think it was shortly after he had split with his wife (or some type of similar situation). Anyway, the guy gave a speech at this convention I was attending...and he made absolutely no sense up there. I mean, the guy was off his rocker. I think he may have been an alcoholic too. Sad story.

WOW. i remember this dude like it was yesterday. he was always stood in the endzone during the opening kickoff.

what a shame.

Yeah, I always would see him on ESPN College Football Saturday night. He seemed pretty cool on t.v. and then he wasn't on. I hope they haven't replaced him permanently with that horrible Holly Rowe.

Wow thats really too bad. Strange though, why would he kill himself to avoid going to jail for an 11 month tax setence. Its not like he's going to be with the big gang bangers, just fellow white collar criminals. Was it offically ruled suicide yet, or is it just a strange coincidence.

I still haven't seen the final autopsy report anywhere.

i heard suicide today

Where did you hear that from Bammer? I know it has been rumored. Did you hear it on the news somewhere?