Police: Spokesman wrote 'can't take being unemployed again'

The Jefferson City police department training room was once again the scene for a press conference Tuesday, during which Cpt. Doug Shoemaker, at podium, released details of a suicide note left by Spence Jackson who died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound late last week. Standing at left is lead detective, Lt. Steve Weaver.
The Jefferson City police department training room was once again the scene for a press conference Tuesday, during which Cpt. Doug Shoemaker, at podium, released details of a suicide note left by Spence Jackson who died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound late last week. Standing at left is lead detective, Lt. Steve Weaver.

"I'm so sorry - I just can't take being unemployed again."

That was all that was written on a note left by the spokesman for the state auditor before he is believed to have committed suicide.

Jefferson City police said at a Tuesday afternoon press conference that the handwritten note from Spence Jackson, 44, was found on a living room table and dated March 27.

Jackson was found in his bedroom, dead from a single gunshot wound to the head from a .357 magnum revolver, which was recovered at the scene.

The preliminary findings from an autopsy done by the Boone County Medical Examiner's Office indicate the time of death sometime between Friday afternoon and evening.

Jackson's body was found in his Southwest Boulevard apartment at approximately 7 p.m. Sunday, after Jackson's mother asked police to check on him.

Police called Tuesday's press conference at the behest of Jackson's family who wanted the contents of the note released publicly.

"Our family has had a lot of pressure to discuss Spence's death, and we are not quite ready to deal with that," Jackson's sister said via Facebook. "With that being said, we spoke with detectives and decided to release the contents of his letter. We would like to end the speculation of conspiracy theories that are going around."

Jackson was Auditor Tom Schweich's spokesman since 2011. Schweich died Feb. 26 at his home in Clayton, from what police believe was a suicide from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Jackson had continued working for the auditor's office after Schweich's death, but had told a reporter he was having trouble understanding the auditor's death.

"Although this is still an open investigation, at this time there is no evidence to indicate that Mr. Jackson's death was anything other than a suicide," said Capt. Doug Shoemaker, Jefferson City Police Department spokesman. "There was no forced entry into the residence, no indications of any struggle, and no illegal drugs found in the residence."

"I want to reiterate that sometimes these situations may never be fully explained," Shoemaker added.

Shoemaker said they have worked closely with the State Auditor's Office on the investigation and are trying to retrace his actions prior to his death.

"There had been reports that Jackson did not report for work Friday, but in fact he did go to work for a partial day," Shoemaker said. "He was in his office, seen by many of his co-workers and left for lunch, but never returned. Those that talked with Mr. Jackson reported he showed nothing out of the ordinary, and it's our understanding he was very well liked by the staff at the office."

The deaths of Jackson and Schweich, who was running for governor, have shaken Missouri politics - particularly the Republican Party - heading into an important 2016 election featuring races for most of Missouri's top offices.

Schweich shot himself just minutes after he told an Associated Press reporter he wanted to go public with allegations that the head of the Missouri Republican Party had told some donors last year that Schweich was Jewish. Schweich, who had Jewish ancestry but was a Christian, said he perceived the remarks as anti-semitism.

State Republican Party Chairman John Hancock has said he has no recollection of saying such things but has acknowledged it's possible because he mistakenly believed Schweich was Jewish until Schweich told him otherwise last November.

Jackson, who had worked for Republican officeholders for some of the past two decades, was among the first to call for Hancock's resignation after Schweich's funeral. Hancock has remained as party chairman.

Jackson also had said Schweich was upset about a radio ad produced by supporters of his GOP gubernatorial rival, Catherine Hanaway, that mocked Schweich's physical appearance and suggested he was a pawn of Democrats who would "quickly squash him like the little bug that he is" in a general election.

Hanaway suspended her campaign for a month following Schweich's death, but resumed campaigning Friday. She said she directed consultants and staff not to have any additional involvement with outside entities involved in the governor's race.

Jackson's family issued a statement after the news conference via a family friend on Facebook.

"We would like to express our gratitude for the overwhelming outpouring of love and support we have received and to thank everyone for their thoughtful calls, letters, emails and posts on social media. Most importantly, we thank everyone for their continued prayers for Spence and our family. The comfort and strength your prayers are giving us mean more than you will ever know.

"Spence was a loving son, brother, uncle and friend to many. He was a kind, caring and loyal person. Spence was passionate about his career and for the elected officials, candidates and causes he represented.

"As you can imagine, this is a very difficult time for our family. We ask the media to give us time to mourn and make arrangements to remember Spence.

"We also encourage anyone who might need help to seek it and for anyone who might know someone who needs help to encourage them to find it."