Aide Mysteriously Found Dead Month After Missouri GOPer’s Suicide

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Police said an aide to late gubernatorial candidate and Missouri Auditor Tom Schweich (R) was found dead Sunday of an apparent suicide.

Police found Schweich spokesman Spence Jackson dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at about 7 p.m. in his apartment, according to a media release issued Monday morning by the Jefferson City Police Department.

“Physical evidence at the scene, along with an examination of the apartment, did not indicate any signs of forced entry or struggle, but Detectives began a full investigation with the assistance of Patrol personnel to canvas the area and contact those who knew Jackson,” the release read. “This investigation is still an open investigation, and no details regarding findings will be released as of yet.”

Jackson’s apparent suicide came a little more than a month after Schweich took his own life.

The spokesman had been the first person to publicly call for the resignation of Missouri Republican Party Chairman John Hancock over allegations that he’d been telling people Schweich was Jewish, even though the late auditor was an Episcopalian. Hancock has denied that he carried out a so-called “whisper campaign” about Schweich’s faith.

Jackson, 44, had served as Schweich’s media director since 2011. He worked for former Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt’s (R) campaign committee, the Missouri Department of Economic Development and the Jordan Valley Health Center prior to going to work for Schweich, according to the Post-Dispatch.

Jefferson City police plan to hold a press conference Monday at 11:30 a.m. local time.

This post has been updated.

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