What happened to Jim Irsay’s girlfriend Kimberly Wundrum? Tragedy explored in wake of Colts owner’s unexpected passing

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay passed away on Wednesday. The cause of his demise has not yet been revealed, although his range of health issues was widely known.

A statement released on the official X account of Indianapolis Colts said:

"We are devastated to announce our beloved Owner & CEO, Jim Irsay, passed away peacefully in his sleep this afternoon. Jim's dedication and passion for the Indianapolis Colts in addition to his generosity, commitment to the community, and most importantly, his love for his family were unsurpassed."

Irsay's demise brings back to focus his allegedly secret relationship with Kimberly Wundrum, who passed away from an accidental drug overdose in 2014. He had reportedly started dating her after his separation from his wife in 2003.

More about Kimberly Wundrum, as Jim Irsay passes away

Jim Irsay, who passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday afternoon, inherited the position of CEO and owner of Indianapolis Colts after his father, Robert Irsay's death in 1997. He had a long dedicated career in the sport, though his life was reportedly marred by frequent troubles related to addiction.

Jim Irsay married Meg Coyle in 1980. The couple had three children — Carlie, (born in 1981), Casey (born in 1983), and Kalen (born in 1987). Jim and Meg were married for 23 years untill their separation in 2003.

This is when Irsay's alleged eight-year on-and-off relationship with Kimberly Wundrum began, lasting until their break up in 2013.

According to ESPN, Jim Irsay never formally acknowledged his relationship with Wundrum, bought three houses for her, and during this time, was still legally married to his wife, Meg. On March 2, 2014, Kimberly Wundrum was found dead in one of the houses Irsay had bought for her, from an accidental drug overdose. During the initial investigation, police found several of Jim Irsay's pictures in her house, along with unidentified drugs.

A statement released by Kimberly Wundrum's sister, Rhonda Wundrum, was obtained by Indy Star, it read:

"I cannot speak for them, and Kim cannot speak for herself. My sister was a kind, loving and gentle person who had a long struggle, and her attempts to rise above her struggles were not successful."

According to ESPN, Kimberly Wundrum has a long, troubled history with addiction. Before she met Jim Irsay, she was married to Craig Boda, a lawyer based in Florida. Wundrum initially started working as a nanny to Boda's four children before the two developed a relationship. In 1994, the couple who had a 15-year age difference, got married.

At this point, according to ESPN, both of them were addicted, and in 1998, Boda was sent to prison for helping a client hide profits from his drug-related business. In the early 2000s, Kimberly Wundrum faced several minor drug-related charges. She divorced Craig Boda in 2003, and later raised his children after his death in 2005 from a drug overdose.

Just two weeks after Kimberly Wundrum's death, Jim Irsay, who was already in an alleged relationship with another woman at the time, was arrested by the police for carrying a large bag of prescription medication in his car. He was charged with possession of controlled substances and driving under the influence, and later voluntarily checked himself into a treatment care facility. A statement obtained by New York Post was released by his family. It read:

"[Jim Irsay] voluntarily checked into a highly-respected health care facility and is committed to undergoing the treatment and care necessary to help him meet his challenges head-on.”

According to ESPN, Jim Irsay met Kimberly Wundrum while she was working as a babysitter for his friend's children. In 1997 Jim Irsay was a client of Kimberly Wundrum's sister, Rhonda, who worked as a masseuse. Rhonda recommended her sister for the baby sitting job. That is how their relationship began, and in 2006 he bought Kimberly a house in Indianapolis. He even cared for Wundrum's step children.

In an interview with ESPN, her eldest step son, Matt Boda, shared how Irsay impacted their lives, saying:

"When my dad died, the scar was so deep that when Jim came, I was like, 'Oh my God, here's my new dad come to save the day. He took me out of my junkie life in Florida and gave me a new [life] in Los Angeles. He systematically just reset us."

Trending

However, throughout their relationship, Jim Irsay never introduced Kimberly Wundrum to his family, which alleged caused a fallout. In the months before her death, the 42-year-old Kimberly Wundrum was arrested multiple times. In August 2013, she was arrested for possession of drugs and for driving while under the influence. All of this would ultimately culminate in her untimely death a few months later.

Jim Irsay is survived by his ex wife, and three daughters, all of whom hold leadership positions at Indianapolis Colts, with his eldest daughter, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, projected to become the next CEO.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback