The body of former NFL linebacker Jovan Belcher was exhumed Friday in order to perform tests on his brain , a lawyer for the player 's family told the Kansas City Star . Attorney Dirk Vandever told the newspaper that Belcher 's family hopes tests will provide a clue as to why the four-year veteran of the Kansas City Chiefs shot his longtime girlfriend to death then killed himself about a year ago . Belcher 's body was exhumed Friday from a cemetery in Long Island , New York , the paper reported . It was not clear where the body was sent for examination . Vandever did n't immediately respond to CNN 's calls for comment Sunday morning . The family wants to know if chronic traumatic encephalopathy , known as CTE , or something else played a role in the murder-suicide , according to the newspaper . CTE is a progressive degenerative brain disease found in some athletes with a history of repetitive brain trauma . The only way to diagnose CTE is after death -- by analyzing brain tissue and finding microscopic clumps of an abnormal protein called tau . Tau has been found in the brains of dozens of former NFL players , including Junior Seau , Dave Duerson , Terry Long and Shane Dronett , who all committed suicide . It was also found in the brain of Mike Webster , who died in 2002 . Suicide latest in a string among former NFL players . Dr. Bennet Omalu , the first forensic pathologist to diagnose CTE in NFL players , told CNN time is a factor in the Belcher case . `` There is a reasonable probability that the ( brain ) tissues would have degenerated , but until you open the body up , you may not know if there would be viable tissue for reasonable analysis , '' he wrote in an e-mail to CNN on Sunday . Omalu said there was a 50-50 chance that the study of the brain would yield results after the body had been buried about a year . He said he had performed two such studies himself . `` The exhumation and analysis has to be performed by a forensic pathologist who has the experience and expertise , otherwise it has the potential of coming to naught , '' he said . Scientists are working to identify some common symptoms of the brain disease in living players . Experts say athletes with CTE often struggle with memory and decision-making . Some exhibit mood and behavior problems such as depression and hopelessness , or violent , explosive behavior . A few show no symptoms at all . In 2002 , Webster , a Hall of Fame center for the Pittsburgh Steelers , was the first former NFL player to be diagnosed with CTE . After his retirement , Webster suffered from amnesia , dementia , depression and bone and muscle pain . Mother screams as baby cries in released Belcher 911 tapes . Other athletes have demonstrated erratic behavior , such as Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Justin Strzelczyk , 36 , who died in a 2004 high-speed chase . Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry died at age 26 after falling from the bed of a moving pickup during a fight with his fiancee . Issues surrounding brain damage , and other potential long-term cognitive and emotional consequences of repetitive brain trauma , have become a serious concern for the NFL . The league settled a concussion lawsuit for $ 765 million in August . At the heart of the lawsuit were plaintiffs ' allegations that the NFL led a deliberate misinformation campaign -- primarily through its Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee -- to deny scientific data being presented in the medical community about concussion risks . The deal calls for the NFL to pay for medical exams , concussion-related compensation , medical research for retired NFL players and their families , and litigation expenses , according to a court document filed in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia . The agreement involved more than 4,500 plaintiffs . Belcher -- who was 6-foot-2 and weighed 228 pounds -- played for the Chiefs from 2009 to 2012 , appearing in 59 games . On December 1 , 2012 , the 25-year-old linebacker fatally shot his girlfriend , Kassandra Perkins , in the same home with their 3-month-old daughter before heading to the team 's practice facility , thanking his coaches , and turning his gun on himself . In an November article on Bleacher Report , a friend of Belcher 's said the linebacker played through his physical problems . `` Jovan suffered multiple concussions , '' said Kash Kiefer , a former punter at Maine and one of Belcher 's closest friends . `` But in football , you do n't complain . You play . That was Jovan . He played . '' Belcher was from West Babylon , New York . He played for the University of Maine Black Bears , where he started in all 45 games of his four-year career . Opinion : Manhood , football and suicide .
Jason Belcher shot his wife and himself in December 2012 . The Kansas City Star reports his body was exhumed on Sunday . Belcher 's family wants his body to be studied for signs of CTE . Experienced doctor says 50 - 50 chance it will show results .