Schweich, pictured, took his own life at his suburban St. Louis home on Feb. 26. Spokesman for Missouri official who committed suicide found dead

The spokesman for former Missouri state Auditor Tom Schweich has been found dead in his Jefferson City apartment, according to various local media reports.

Police said Monday that Spence Jackson’s death is being investigated as a suicide, after he was found dead Sunday of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.


“We are looking at this clearly as, at least, this point as a suicide investigation,” Jefferson City Police spokesman Doug Shoemaker said during a news conference on Monday.

Shoemaker said he could not confirm the official cause of death until an autopsy is completed. The spokesman said a .357 Magnum revolver and a note were found at the scene, the specific contents of which he did not disclose, citing the ongoing investigation.

Jefferson City police would not confirm his death on Sunday night, telling outlets that they would release more information on Monday morning. A source told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that Jackson took a sick day on Friday.

Schweich took his own life at his suburban St. Louis home a little more than a month ago, on Feb. 26.

Jackson, 44, who had been Schweich’s media director since 2011 and was a spokesman for former Gov. Matt Blunt, had demanded the resignation of Missouri Republican Party Chairman John Hancock after allegations that Hancock orchestrated an anti-Semitic “whisper campaign” against Schweich, who had only recently announced his candidacy for the state’s Republican gubernatorial nomination.

Hancock has denied the “whisper campaign” allegations. He admitted to telling people that he thought Schweich was Jewish, but only because he says he was mistaken. Schweich was Episcopalian.

In a statement Monday, Blunt, who is the son of Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt, said the longtime state official “will be truly missed,” offering prayers to family and friends.

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Tom Schweich