Police: Mo. candidate dies of self-inflicted gunshot

The (Springfield, Mo.) News-Leader

Show Caption Hide Caption Cops: MO candidate dies of self-inflicted gunshot wound Listen to the call from Missouri State Auditor Tom Schweich to a newspaper, reportedly just minutes before someone called 911 to report his apparent suicide.

ST. LOUIS — Missouri Auditor Tom Schweich, who was a Republican candidate for governor, died of self-inflicted gunshot wound Thursday, authorities say.

Schweich, 54,was hospitalized Thursday following a "medical situation at his home," a spokesman said.

Clayton Police Chief Kevin Murphy said Schweich sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He says officers believe the incident was a suicide.

"There is nothing to suggest anything other than that (suicide) at this point. We are conducting an investigation," he said.



An autopsy has been requested.



Schweich's death stunned many of Missouri's top elected officials, who described him as a "brilliant" and "devoted" public servant with an "unblemished record" in office.

Just 13 minutes before police got an emergency call from his home, Schweich had a phone conversation with The Associated Press about his plans to go public that afternoon with allegations that the head of the Missouri Republican Party had made anti-Semitic comments about him.



The state GOP chairman denied doing so in an interview later Thursday.



Schweich had Jewish ancestry but attended an Episcopal church. Spokesman Spence Jackson said his boss had recently appeared upset about the comments people were supposedly making about his religious faith and about a recent radio ad describing Schweich as "a weak candidate for governor" who "could be easily confused for the deputy sheriff of Mayberry" and could "be manipulated."



"The campaign had been difficult, as all campaigns are," Jackson said. "There were a lot of things that were on his mind."



But Jackson said Schweich had been diligently going about his work, with another audit scheduled to be released next week.

Late last month, Schweich announced he would seek the Republican nomination for governor, facing fellow Republican Catherine Hanaway.

Schweich was re-elected last November to a second term as auditor.

A prayer service has been scheduled Thursday in the Missouri House chamber.

In a statement, Gov. Jay Nixon expressed his condolences.

"I join all Missourians in mourning the passing of State Auditor Tom Schweich, a brilliant, devoted and accomplished public servant who dedicated his career to making Missouri and the world a better place. From his courageous work to combat the illegal drug trade abroad in Afghanistan to his tireless efforts to protect the interests of taxpayers here in Missouri, Tom Schweich's exceptional intellect and unwavering dedication to public service left a legacy that will endure for many years to come. The First Lady and I send our most heartfelt condolences to Tom's wife Kathy and two children, Emilie and Thomas, Jr."

Nixon also has ordered flags at all Missouri state facilities to be immediately lowered to half-staff to honor his passing.

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay released a statement saying his thoughts and prayers are with Schweich's family.

According to his website, Schweich was a fifth-generation Missourian. He attended public school in St. Louis County before attending Yale University and then Harvard Law School. He practiced law for more than 20 years at Bryan Cave LLP and authored three books.

Schweich made his political debut in 2010, by unseating Democratic Auditor Susan Montee. He previously worked as a private-sector attorney and for the federal government.

He also served as chief of staff to the U.S. Mission to the United Nations and later worked in the State Department, where he was assigned to coordinate an anti-drug initiative in Afghanistan.

Schweich met his wife, Kathy, in seventh grade. He has two children, Emilie and Thomas Jr.

Contributing: KSDK-TV, St. Louis; The Associated Press