Effingham County state court Judge Stephen Yekel was found dead in a courtroom on Tuesday morning, the day marking the end of his judicial term, as reported by WJCL.
Authorities confirmed his death was the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The Effingham County sheriff’s office reported that Yekel’s body was discovered between 10.00 am and 10.30 am by a deputy.Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie said that investigators believe the incident occurred the previous night.
Yekel, who served in the legal profession for over 45 years, had been appointed to the state court by Georgia governor Brian Kemp in June 2022. However, after losing his re-election bid earlier this year, Yekel attempted to resign from his position but was denied by Kemp.
Officials confirmed that a note was sent to the governor’s office, but the contents have not yet been disclosed. Sheriff McDuffie addressed the tragedy, offering condolences to Yekel’s family. “This is never good for anybody. The family’s distraught. This is supposed to be a happy time this time of year, and now they’ve got this. I can’t imagine. If they have anything they need from us, we’ll be available,” McDuffie told local ABC affiliate WJCL
The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation, while the Georgia Bureau of Investigation will conduct an autopsy.
In addition to his judicial role, Yekel had a distinguished career as a lawyer, special agent, and investigator. He served in various legal and enforcement positions, including as an assistant district attorney in Chatham County.
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