54-year-old Thomas Schweich, who recently won the race for State Auditor of Missouri, defeating Democratic incumbent Susan Montee, has been found dead in an apparent suicide.
Schweich was a leading Republican candidate for Missouri’s governor’s office.
The politician was found with a single gunshot wound and pronounced dead. An autopsy is pending and the investigation is ongoing.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch said Schweich’s wife, who was in another room Thursday morning, heard him making phone calls, then a gunshot.
It happened just hours after Schweich had requested interviews with the Post-Dispatch and The Associated Press at his home, CNN reported.
Schweich recently announced he would run for Governor of Missouri in 2016.
Prior to being elected State Auditor, he served as U.S. Coordinator for Counternarcotics and Justice Reform in Afghanistan.
(Photo Credit – KYTV)
