The Bexar County Medical Examiner has ruled Dan Markson, a prominent professional in San Antonio’s affordable housing development community, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Results of the autopsy for Markson, a 59-year-old who was found unresponsive in his home on May 4, were released Thursday.
In the autopsy report completed June 3, medical examiners concluded there was no evidence of trauma aside from injuries expected in a contact gunshot wound to the chest.
“The circumstances suggest that the gunshot wound was self-inflicted,” the report stated. “If additional information becomes available in the future to suggest otherwise, the manner of death can be reassessed and amended if necessary.”
A toxicology screen accompanying the autopsy report showed Markson had no alcohol in his system.
However, blood analysis confirmed the presence of controlled substances, including oxazepam, which is used to treat anxiety and alcohol withdrawal symptoms, along with the sedative temazepam and an antidepressant medication known as desmethylsertraline.
Measurements of those medications in his blood could not be quantified at the time of the autopsy.
Markson served as executive vice president of development for The NRP Group, a national housing developer, and was a co-founder of its Texas office.
For 30 years, Markson led affordable housing development efforts throughout San Antonio and Texas and spearheaded the creation of more than 20,000 apartment homes in four states, including more than 17,000 in Texas.
Following his death in May, Markson was remembered as a singular expert in affordable housing development, and for his dedication to creating top-quality housing for people of all incomes in San Antonio. Developer David Adelman called him “a true civic statesman and a devout member of our Jewish faith community.”
Markson is survived by his 4-year-old son.
