Spokesman for late state auditor found dead

UPDATED INFORMATION

By Bob Watson

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At a late-morning news conference, Jefferson City Police spokesman Doug Shoemaker said investigators found a note in Spence Jackson's apartment, but declined to reveal its contents as their investigation continues.

Shoemaker also said a .357 Magnum revolver was found near Jackson's body, and that one spent round had been recovered.

He declined to provide details of the fatal wound, pending results of the autopsy being conducted in Boone County today.

Police are seeking information from anyone who might have seen or communicated with Jackson on Friday or over the weekend.

Shoemaker told reporters: "The exact time of death - or a time-frame - will be determined by the autopsy results.

"We believe most likely it occurred early in the weekend - most likely or probably into Saturday."

Shoemaker said police are aware of possible connections with Auditor Tom Schweich's death a month ago, and have talked with Clayton who officials who investigated Schweich's suicide.

But Shoemaker wouldn't discuss details.

He said Jackson was 44, correcting an error in a police news release issued earlier in the day.

By DAVID A. LIEB

Associated Press

Eds: Adds details about Jackson's career, updates with conflicting accounts of Jackson's age. Will be updated. With AP Photos.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The spokesman for the Missouri auditor's office has died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in what police described Monday as an apparent suicide. The death comes about a month after the state auditor also killed himself.

Robert "Spence" Jackson was found dead Sunday evening in his home in Jefferson City after police responded to a well-being check, the Jefferson City Police Department said in a written statement. Police said they are investigating the case as a suicide.

Jackson's boss, Auditor Tom Schweich, fatally shot himself on Feb. 26 at his home in the St. Louis suburb of Clayton in what police also have described as a suicide. His death roiled the Missouri Republican Party as it prepares for the 2016 election featuring races for U.S. Senate, governor and most of Missouri's other statewide executive offices.

Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt, for whom Jackson also had previously worked, issued a statement Monday saying he was saddened to learn of his friend's death.

"Spence was a gifted communicator who dedicated his talents in public affairs to public service," Blunt said. "Spence was hard-working, well-liked and quick-witted."

Jackson had remained as the auditor's office spokesman after Schweich's death. Police listed Jackson's age at 45, though court records indicate he was 44.

Just minutes before Schweich's death, Schweich had told an Associated Press reporter that he wanted to go public with allegations that the chairman of the Missouri Republican Party, John Hancock, had been telling people last year that Schweich was Jewish. Schweich, who was Christian, said he perceived the remarks to be part of an anti-Semitic whispering campaign against him.

Jackson was among the first to suggest after Schweich's funeral that Hancock should resign.

Hancock has remained on the job. He has denied making anti-Semitic remarks, though he has said it's possible he might have told some people that Schweich was Jewish because he mistakenly believed that to be true.

Police said they responded to a call to Jackson's apartment a little after 7 p.m. Sunday after one of Jackson's family members said he had been unresponsive to phone calls.

A property manager provided a key to police officers, who found Jackson dead in his bedroom from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to police. Police said there was no physical evidence of a forced entry or struggle, but that an autopsy is planned for Monday and detectives are continuing to investigate the case.

Jackson had worked in various Missouri government and political jobs over the past 15 years. He served as Blunt's spokesman in his successful 2000 campaign for secretary of state and then joined Blunt's official staff. Jackson also served as Blunt's campaign spokesman in his successful 2004 gubernatorial bid and again rejoined his office.

Blunt moved Jackson to the state Department of Economic Development in 2006. When Blunt chose not to seek re-election, Jackson served as campaign spokesman for Sarah Steelman's unsuccessful 2008 gubernatorial bid. He joined Schweich's staff at the auditor's office in October 2011.


Follow David A. Lieb at: https://twitter.com/DavidALieb

By DAVID A. LIEB

Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The spokesman for the Missouri auditor's office has died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound in what police described Monday as an apparent suicide. The death comes about a month after the state auditor also killed himself.

Robert "Spence" Jackson was found dead Sunday evening in his home in Jefferson City after police responded to a well-being check, the Jefferson City Police Department said in a written statement. Police said they are investigating the case as a suicide.

Jackson's boss, Auditor Tom Schweich, fatally shot himself on Feb. 26 at his home in the St. Louis suburb of Clayton in what police also have described as a suicide. His death roiled the Missouri Republican Party as it prepares for the 2016 election featuring races for U.S. Senate, governor and most of Missouri's other statewide executive offices.

Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt, for whom Jackson also had previously worked, issued a statement Monday saying he was saddened to learn of his friend's death.

"Spence was a gifted communicator who dedicated his talents in public affairs to public service," Blunt said. "Spence was hard-working, well-liked and quick-witted."

Jackson had remained as the auditor's office spokesman after Schweich's death. Police listed Jackson's age at 45, though court records indicate he was 44.

Just minutes before Schweich's death, Schweich had told an Associated Press reporter that he wanted to go public with allegations that the chairman of the Missouri Republican Party, John Hancock, had been telling people last year that Schweich was Jewish. Schweich, who was Christian, said he perceived the remarks to be part of an anti-Semitic whispering campaign against him.

Jackson was among the first to suggest after Schweich's funeral that Hancock should resign.

Hancock has remained on the job. He has denied making anti-Semitic remarks, though he has said it's possible he might have told some people that Schweich was Jewish because he mistakenly believed that to be true.

Police said they responded to a call to Jackson's apartment a little after 7 p.m. Sunday after one of Jackson's family members said he had been unresponsive to phone calls.

A property manager provided a key to police officers, who found Jackson dead in his bedroom from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to police. Police said there was no physical evidence of a forced entry or struggle, but that an autopsy is planned for Monday and detectives are continuing to investigate the case.

Jackson had worked in various Missouri government and political jobs over the past 15 years. He served as Blunt's spokesman in his successful 2000 campaign for secretary of state and then joined Blunt's official staff. Jackson also served as Blunt's campaign spokesman in his successful 2004 gubernatorial bid and again rejoined his office.

Blunt moved Jackson to the state Department of Economic Development in 2006. When Blunt chose not to seek re-election, Jackson served as campaign spokesman for Sarah Steelman's unsuccessful 2008 gubernatorial bid. He joined Schweich's staff at the auditor's office in October 2011.


Follow David A. Lieb at: https://twitter.com/DavidALieb

EARLIER COVERAGE

JEFFERSON CITY • Veteran Missouri state official Spence Jackson, who was media director for the late state auditor Tom Schweich, was found dead Sunday,

According to Jefferson City police reports, just after 7 p.m., responded to an apartment in the 900 block of Southwest Boulevard for a "check well-being' call of Spence Jackson, 45. According to the caller, a family member of Jackson, he was unresponsive to calls or other attempts to raise him at the apartment. The property manager was able to provide a key to responding officers, who entered the residence and located Jackson in his bedroom. Initial assessment of the scene indicated that Jackson died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, but Jefferson City Police Detectives were called to the scene to investigate.

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 officers to canvas the area and contact those who knew Jackson.

This investigation is still an open investigation, and no details regarding findings will be released as of yet according to JCPD Spokesman Capt. Doug Shoemaker.

An autopsy is planned for today and detectives are continuing to investigate this case as a suicide, although further information will be necessary to eliminate any other possible causes for Jackson's death.

Jackson took a sick day on Friday, a source told the St. Louis Post Dispatch.

Jackson's death comes about a month after Schweich's suicide. Amid the subsequent turmoil in the state's Republican Party, Jackson emerged as a strong critic of Schweich's political adversaries, to the point of calling for the resignation of a top party official.

Jackson took a sick day on Friday, the source said.

On Feb. 26, Schweich, the state's elected auditor and a frontrunner for the Republican nomination for governor, shot himself in his Clayton home after complaining about the tactics of fellow Republicans in the GOP primary campaign.

Subsequently, Jackson called for the resignation of Republican state Chairman John Hancock, because of Schweich's allegation that Hancock had conducted an anti-Semitic "whispering campaign" against Schweich. Hancock has vehemently denied that allegation.

Jackson was Schweich's media director for almost four years, starting in May 2011. Before that, he held several key Republican jobs in state government.

Starting in the early 2000s, he was communications director for Matt Blunt when he was secretary of state, and then worked for Blunt's campaign committee in 2004 when Blunt was running for governor.

Jackson worked one year for Blunt when he was governor before moving to the Missouri Department of Economic Development in October 2006. He worked there until January 2009.

After a year working for Jordan Valley Health Center, Jackson moved to Schweich's office.

Blunt today issued the following statement on Jackson's death:

"Melanie and I are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Spence Jackson who was a good friend for many years. Spence was a gifted communicator who dedicated his talents in public affairs to public service. Over his career he served as chief spokesman for three of Missouri's statewide offices including that of the governor when I held that post. Spence was hard-working, well-liked and quick-witted. He will truly be missed. We mourn his passing and offer our prayers to his family and friends."