UPDATES:
Police investigating death of former Schweich spokesman as a suicide
Despite controversy, Tom Schweich spokesman’s death to be investigated like any other
Original story:
Multiple sources are saying that Spence Jackson, the media relations director for the late state auditor Tom Schweich, was found dead in his apartment in Jefferson City on Sunday.
Spence Jackson
Jackson’s death is reportedly being investigated as a suicide.
Schweich committed suicide February 26 at his home in Clayton. Friends and colleagues, including Jackson, said Schweich was angry about an alleged “whispering campaign” among other Republicans saying Schweich was Jewish, that Schweich believed was an effort to hurt him in the race for the Republican nomination for governor. Jackson was one of those in the Republican party who accused Missouri GOP Chairman John Hancock of being behind that effort, and called for his resignation.
In addition to being on Schweich’s staff for nearly four years, Jackson was close to Schweich.
More information about Jackson’s apparent death is anticipated later this morning.
Before taking the job working for Schweich in the auditor’s office in May, 2011, Jackson had worked as the communications director for the Missouri Department of Economic Development under then-governor Matt Blunt as well as the communications director for Blunt’s office in 2005 and much of 2006, and for Blunt’s campaign in 2004.