Carl Ruiz died on September 21, 2019, at age 44. Reports published the following month said Maryland medical examiner officials identified the cause of death as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The reported determination is more precise than the early, unconfirmed suggestion that he had suffered a heart attack.
What was Carl Ruiz’s cause of death?
Entertainment Tonight quoted a representative connected to the Maryland Department of Health’s Medical Examiner’s Office as saying that “the cause of death for Carl Ruiz is atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.” Entertainment Tonight reported the finding on October 16, 2019. CBS Baltimore also reported that Maryland’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the cause to be atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. CBS Baltimore’s report gave his death date as September 21, 2019.
The available reports establish that diagnosis as the medical examiner’s reported cause. They do not provide full pathology findings or specify the particular medical event that occurred.
Why early reports mentioned a heart attack
When news of Ruiz’s death emerged on September 22, 2019, the cause had not been made public. A friend’s social media post described a suspected heart attack, which was repeated in contemporaneous coverage. That was an early report, not the later medical examiner finding. CBS News covered the initial reports on September 22.
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For accuracy, describe the reported cause as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease rather than stating that an officially confirmed heart attack was the cause. The reports cited here do not establish that more specific conclusion.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the reports do—and do not—say
Ruiz was 44 when he died. The reports identifying the cause do not document his individual risk factors, complete medical history, or full autopsy findings. They therefore do not support claims about why he developed the condition, and his profession or public persona should not be treated as evidence of a medical cause.
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La Cubana, the New York restaurant Ruiz co-founded, expressed its grief in a tribute reproduced by CBS News: “No words can fully express our sadness at the sudden loss of our dear friend and brother.” Guy Fieri also paid tribute to Ruiz, whom he called a friend. Entertainment Tonight reported Fieri’s statement.
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