What we know so far about the death of Louis Nix

SOUTH BEND, Ind. --- ABC57 Investigates is digging deeper into the death of former Notre Dame football player and NFL star, Louis Nix.

Family confirmed to News4Jax in Jacksonville that police found Nix’s car in a pond across the street from Broxton Bay Apartments. That is where family told News4Jax that Nix was living with his girlfriend.

Jacksonville Sheriff’s officials still have not confirmed where or how Nix was found. The family, telling News4Jax, that all they know is police found Nix’s car in a pond on Saturday—just three days after Nix’s family reported him missing last Wednesday.

“I knew something was wrong and I had to call missing persons because that’s not like my son,” Louis Nix’s mother Stephanie Wingfield said. “You’re going to hear from him…when she said that I just lost it because I couldn’t believe it. They said they couldn’t give me any more information. That was my baby that was my big Lou I miss him I miss him but I know he’s in a better place.”

Before going on to play three seasons in the NFL, the All-American, affectionately known as “Irish Chocolate”, played a key role on the field for the Irish. Nix started in 11 of 13 games in the 2012 season, leading the defensive linemen with 50 tackles. Nix ranked fourth on the team and added two sacks.

After his time on the Irish, Nix was a third-round pick in the 2014 NFL draft by the Houston Texans, going on to play three seasons in the NFL.

Nix was on the 2014 roster for the Texans, before joining the New York Giants (2015), Washington Football Team (2016) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2016).

Michiana continued to mourn the loss of Nix, sending condolences to the family, his friends and football brotherhood. Head Coach Brian Kelly hosted a virtual conference Monday afternoon to honor and remember Nix.

“We can look back on his time here and know that there was a spirit, there was an energy, there was a vibrant young man that passed through these hallways here and that’s what we choose to remember,” Kelly said.

Nix was also shot in a gas station robbery back in December, just about a half-mile away from where it is believed that Nix’s car was pulled out on Saturday.

ABC57 reached out to Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office for more details, but have yet to hear back.