Kosta Karageorge

COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio State football player who disappeared after sending his parents a text message about his concussions was found in a trash bin, the victim of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.

A woman and her son looking for items in a dumpster found the body around 2:30 p.m. Sunday and contacted the authorities.

“At this time we are able to confirm through tattoos here at the scene that it is the body of Kosta Karageorge,” said police spokesman Sgt. Rich Weiner.

Weiner said a preliminary investigation showed that Karageorge apparently died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A handgun was found in the dumpster, he said.

University athletic officials said they were saddened to learn of the senior defensive tackle’s death.

“It’s hit the team hard,” team spokesman Jerry Emig said.

Karageorge went missing Wednesday, and police found his body within a couple hundred yards of his home and about a half block from High Street, the main artery of the campus. Karageorge had last been seen at his apartment in Columbus, when his roommates said he left to go on a walk.

Karageorge’s parents filed a missing-person report Wednesday evening, and his mother, Susan Karageorge, told police he had had several concussions and a few spells of being extremely confused, according to the report. She said that at about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday he texted a message apologizing and saying the concussions had messed up his head. “I am sorry if I am an embarrassment,” he said.

A woman answering the phone Sunday at Susan Karageorge’s home identified herself as a friend and said that neither Susan Karageorge nor other family members had any comment.

No one answered Sunday when an Associated Press reporter knocked on the door of Karageorge’s apartment.

Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith said in a text message when asked about any plans to honor the player or logistics for the team to attend the funeral that it was too soon to answer those questions. The Buckeyes will play Wisconsin in the Big Ten championship game Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Karageorge, a former Ohio State wrestler, joined the football team as a walk-on this season. He played in one game and was among two dozen seniors slated to be recognized at the final home game Saturday against rival Michigan. The Buckeyes won, 42-28.

At the game, starting defensive tackle Michael Bennett spoke fondly of Karageorge.

“He’s got a great personality, one of the favorite people I’ve ever met — just an interesting guy and a big heart,” Bennett said.

During halftime at the No. 16 Ohio State men’s basketball game against James Madison in Columbus, pictures of Karageorge were shown and an announcement was made urging people with any information to contact police.