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A Georgia a state judge died by suicide after shooting himself in his courtroom.
Judge Stephen Yekel, 74, was found dead by a deputy on Tuesday, his last day on the bench after losing his re-election bid, according to WSAV.
Yekel was found at the Effingham County State Courthouse around 10 a.m. Tuesday. But investigators believe he died late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.
His death is being investigated by the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Yekel was appointed to the state court in 2022. He recently tried to resign from his post, but was turned down by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, according to WJCL.
Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie offered his condolences to Yekel’s family.
“This is never good for anyone, the family is distraught. This is supposed to be a happy time this time of year and now they have this. I can’t imagine. If they have anything they need from us, we will be available,” he said.
According to WTOC, he also faced a lawsuit from Clerk of Court Lisa Crawford who claims Yekel wrongfully fired her from her position. She claimed in the lawsuit that Yekel fired her to bring in his own staff when he took over.
Yekel, a married father of four, was a former assistant district attorney in Chatham County and previously worked as a special agent for the Georgia Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Unit.
The Effingham County Board of Commissioners released a statement on Yekel’s death.
“The Effingham County Board and staff are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Judge Steve Yekel today at the Effingham County Courthouse and our condolences to his family and loved ones.
The courtroom has been closed since the judge’s body was found. It will resume normal operations on January 2.
If you’re in the US and you or someone you know needs mental health help right now, call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org to access the online chat with 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline available to anyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can leave www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you. In the UK, people experiencing a mental health crisis can contact the Samaritans at 116 123 or jo@samaritans.org