[House Atreides]

“Gonna take a stab at a theory: he knew he was about to be arrested and blamed for something, perhaps that recent gas release ‘accident’ and figured suicide was far preferable.”
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I had forgotten about the gas release. But your theory is definitely a possibility.

[SeekAndFind]

For those reading "gas release" and are wondering what it's all about ....

French Companies Admit Problems at Nuclear Plant in China
One of the companies said there had been a buildup of gases at the heart of a reactor. They say the plant is still safe.