Cocaine Blamed in Dave McKay’s Death

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — The mystery of radio personality Dave McKay’s Aug. 4 death has been revealed by an autopsy report released this week by the Pinellas County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The 55-year-old McKay, whose real name is Steven Ehmke, died of “cocaine toxicity,” according to the autopsy report. Alcohol and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease played contributory roles, the report noted.

McKay was found dead in his St. Petersburg home Aug. 4. When he didn’t show up for his shift on the “Dave and Veronica Show,” a coworker went to check on him.

Following the discovery, St. Petersburg Police said foul play was not suspected in the case.

News of McKay’s death struck fans and friends hard with many taking to social media to express grief. The city of Pinellas Park even decided to rename a road after the popular radio personality.

"Dave McKay was a personal friend of mine and just a really great guy," Rick Butler, vice mayor for the City of Pinellas Park, said in a late August statement. "He supported so many City events and it will be truly an honor to have a street named after Dave in the Pinellas Park community. He will certainly always be remembered and greatly missed. All of Council felt privileged to make this dedication happen."

QYK issued a statement shortly after McKay’s death:

Dave was one of the nicest people any of us have ever met and he was 100% the guy you heard on air for years.

If you were a listener to 99.5 QYK, you were his friend – that’s how he felt. Even if you’d never met him, Dave loved you.

Say a prayer for Dave’s family, his friends, and all of us here at 99.5 QYK – because we’re hurting right along with you.

Photo courtesy of QYK