FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Nearly two months after a 75-year-old woman died following a heated confrontation with employees inside an Indiana Tim Hortons, the Allen County Coroner’s Office has officially revealed what caused her death.
According to the coroner’s findings, Anita Grayson died from acute exacerbation of congestive heart failure in the setting of a physical altercation, meaning the stress and exertion from the confrontation triggered a sudden worsening of her pre-existing heart condition.
Medical officials also stated the autopsy found no significant contributory injuries that directly caused her death. The manner of death has been classified as undetermined.
The incident occurred on May 13 at a Tim Hortons restaurant in Fort Wayne after Grayson reportedly entered the store to complain about a problem with a drive-thru order.
According to investigators, Grayson confronted a 17-year-old employee before a 20-year-old shift lead stepped in and repeatedly instructed her to leave the business.
Police say the encounter quickly escalated when Grayson allegedly shoved the shift lead and struck her in the face.
A physical struggle followed, during which authorities say Grayson scratched the employee, knocked off her glasses, and pulled out a chunk of her hair before other workers separated the two.
Surveillance footage released by the Fort Wayne Police Department shows Grayson sitting down after the altercation and making a phone call. Roughly ten minutes later, she is seen lying on the floor.
Employees, including the same shift lead involved in the fight, checked on Grayson and brought her water before she became unresponsive.
Emergency responders arrived and attempted life-saving measures before transporting her to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Allen County Coroner Dr. E. Jon Brandenberger explained that Grayson’s congestive heart failure suddenly worsened during the confrontation.
Officials said the physical and emotional stress associated with the altercation likely caused an acute flare-up of her existing heart condition. Because the death occurred during an unusual event rather than from natural causes alone, investigators determined it could not be classified as strictly natural.
At the same time, the absence of significant injuries prevented it from being ruled a homicide.
The case has drawn widespread attention online, with surveillance footage circulating on social media and prompting heated debate over what happened inside the restaurant.
Grayson’s family has strongly disputed the police version of events and has retained prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump to represent them. Family members continue to push for the release of the full, unedited surveillance footage, arguing that publicly released clips do not tell the complete story.
Meanwhile, the Fort Wayne Police Department maintains that investigators reviewed surveillance recordings, body-camera footage, witness statements, and multiple 911 calls before publicly releasing video in an effort to combat misinformation surrounding the case.
As of Wednesday, no criminal charges have been filed against any Tim Hortons employees involved in the confrontation. Authorities say the Allen County Prosecutor’s Office will continue reviewing the completed investigation and the coroner’s report before determining whether any charges are warranted.
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