Chad Rogers' aortic valve failed, his father told a Kansas City TV station this week.
The family posted details of Rogers' autopsy report on their Facebook page, "Chad Is Home," after Liberty police announced Wednesday that Rogers, 30, died of "natural causes," and that no "foul play" had been involved.
Rogers, a marathon runner and former youth minister at Jefferson City's First United Methodist Church, left his parents' home in Liberty about 8:30 p.m. on July 22, for a jog - and never returned.
Family, friends and volunteers from the Kansas City area joined police in a massive search for the missing man.
His body was found in a portable toilet the following Friday morning.
Although initial reports said the portable toilet was at a construction site at Liberty's South Valley Junior High School, a police spokesman on Wednesday told the News Tribune it actually was "located near a school parking lot, and a construction site was nearby - it was not actually at a construction site."
Liberty Police Sgt. Robert Kumpost also said, in an e-mail, that Rogers' body was found by a utility worker who locates and marks utility lines, not by a construction worker as some had assumed.
A number of details about Rogers' body being found were not released while the case still was under investigation.
But, with the release Wednesday of the Jackson County medical examiner's report, Liberty police said their case was closed.
Police did not release the details of the medical examiner's findings, but the family's Facebook post quoted the report: "In my opinion, Chad Steward Rogers died as a result of valvular heart disease as a result of a congenital bicuspid aortic valve."
Chad's father, Greg Rogers, told WDAF-TV that Chad was born with a heart defect and that it was monitored regularly.
He said doctors were aware of his heart murmur, but never put any limitations on him.
The autopsy report said there was "evidence of insufficiency" causing a thickening of the walls in the lower chamber on the left side of Rogers' heart.
The medical examiner also found changes in Rogers' blood flow, caused by the congenital defect.
Greg Rogers said he was happy to have the official report, to provide closure for the family.
Chad Rogers, his wife, Sarah, and their son, Matthew, 1, had moved from Jefferson City to Liberty, to be closer to his family.
A memorial fund has been set up to help Sarah and Matthew, and donations can be sent to: The Chad Rogers Memorial Fund, c/o U.S. Bank, 1909 W. Kansas St., Liberty, Mo. 64068.
A website memorializing Rogers' life has been established at chadrogersishome.com
Direct link to video: http://chadrogersishome.com/watch-the-celebration-hd/