More Discovery on Marshawn’s Kneeland Cause of Death, Girlfriend, Catalina Mancera and Family Reacts

CBC

It’s hard not to feel the ache when you read what happened to Marshawn, 24 years old, full of potential, on the cusp of so much. Tragically, that potential was cut short.

A Moment of Light

In recent days, Marshawn had just scored his first NFL touchdown for the Dallas Cowboys. A milestone. A step toward his dream.
His family and cousin remember him as “kind, determined, humble and full of love. His light shone brightly in every life he touched”.

The Long Night

Late on November 5, 2025, things took another turn. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Marshawn refused to stop after he violated traffic rules for a traffic violation, which led to the police pursuing his car. His vehicle was later found crashed and abandoned near the Dallas Parkway in Frisco, Texas. Authorities say Marshawn fled on foot. There was a report that during the search, he sent a “goodbye” text to his loved ones which prompted his girlfriend to act and contact the police.

The Discovery

In the early hours of November 6, a drone discovered blood coming from a portable toilet. Marshawn was found dead in the toilet and it appears it was from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. This is not far from where his vehicle crashed in the southbound lanes of Dallas Parkway.

The official ruling will still come from the Collin County Medical Examiner’s office, but all signs led to a tragic end.

The Girlfriend’s Plea

Catalina Mancera, Marshawn’s girlfriend, speaks out after his death. In a social-media post, she wrote:

“My sweet baby, words could never express how broken I feel. You’re my everything. I’ll love you forever my beautiful angel.”

The 22-year-old girlfriend stays in a high-end apartment in Plano, Texas. In an exclusive interview with Daily Mail, she said, “It’s too much. I’m grieving hard right now. It will be a long time before I’ll feel ready to talk at any length.” She explained that the burial arrangements are ongoing and the details of where it is going to be are still unknown.

But before that, she had contacted authorities. Dispatch records show she warned that Marshawn was armed, had a history of mental illness, and her words: “he will end it all.”

A Cousin’s Questioning

Within the family, grief mingles with doubt.
Jasmine Kneeland, Marshawn’s cousin, expressed a belief that goes beyond the official narrative:

“I truly think they killed him, I truly do… Something made him really scared, and he ran. This is nothing like him at all.”

She argues Marshawn wasn’t suicidal. He disliked drugs. He loved family. “He loves his family. He’s like a big kid,” Jasmine said. The idea that he fled and ended up in a portable building in such a manner simply doesn’t add up, at least, not to her.

The Family’s Grief and Statement

From the wider Kneeland clan, there was this:

“We are devastated by this tremendous loss and are still processing the depth of our grief… He was kind, determined, humble and full of love.”

They describe Marshawn not just as an athlete, but as a son, brother, nephew, cousin, friend; his identity was bigger than football.

The player has gone through a lot before his death. Lost his mother, Wendy, in 2024, and his grandfather within a short time.

Mental-health professionals weighed in. Dr. Jaya Mathew, psychologist and founder of Wellness 360 in Dallas, said:

“It doesn’t matter how rich, or famous, or talented you are… Mental illness kills.”

This shows that amidst the cheers and roar of stadiums, human beings still carry silent burdens. As Matthew puts it, “Let this be a call to action. “As we sit in this sort of collective grief that a young life was lost, let’s make a commitment to checking in on one another and asking these questions about mental illness and mental health.”

What We Know and What Remains

We know:

Marshawn died at 24, just days after his first professional touchdown.
He had a vehicle crash, fled on foot, and his body was found dead after and it appeared that he had killed himself.
His family members believed he was killed and that more investigation should be carried out.

We don’t yet know:

Every detail about what exactly happened between the crash and his death.
Whether there were any other contributing factors (medical, emotional, environmental) fully documented in the public domain yet.
Whether the family’s concerns about law enforcement involvement will lead to an official reopening or further investigation.

Finally

Marshawn Kneeland’s story was meant to be a kind of triumph. That’s how it felt: rising from Grand Rapids, Michigan, making it to the NFL, reaching the moment of his first touchdown. His light was bright. And then, it’s gone.