Posted on 01/26/2002 1:18:16 PM PST by Wolfstar
Police examine note in apparent suicide
By ERIC HANSON and MARY FLOOD
Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle
SUGAR LAND -- A former Enron executive who resigned last year -- reportedly after complaining about accounting practices that led to the firm's collapse -- was found dead Friday, an apparent suicide.
Police said they expect the autopsy results on John Clifford Baxter, the former Enron Corp. vice chairman, to be released Monday.
SNIP...
...Baxter, 43, was discovered about 2:20 a.m. in the driver's seat of his Mercedes-Benz, parked in the 5800 block of Palm Royale Boulevard.
He had been shot once in the head and a .38-caliber revolver was found inside the locked car, investigators said.
Sugar Land police were examining a suicide note, said [Sugar Land police spokeswoman Pat] Whitty, but she would not disclose its contents or say where it was found.
Sources familiar with Baxter's death said Enron was mentioned in the note.
Baxter's car was being inspected for fingerprints or other evidence this weekend.
SNIP...
His luxury sedan was parked in a cut-through in the median of the tree-lined boulevard, within blocks of the $700,000 home he shared with his wife and two children in Sugar Land's most exclusive neighborhood.
Because the evidence of suicide was considered so strong, Fort Bend County Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace James Richard initially chose not to order an autopsy.
"There just wasn't any evidence of foul play," said Richard, noting that police did not request an autopsy.
However, because of the attention being focused on Baxter's death, he changed his mind just before noon.
"I decided to use an overabundance of caution," Richard said.
SNIP...
He had hired an attorney and knew it was likely he was about to be deposed and questioned by lawyers, federal investigators and maybe even Congress. In addition to questions about his work at Enron, there were questions about his own sale of more than 577,000 shares that garnered him $35.2 million between October 1998 and early 2001.
SNIP...
Also Friday, ABC News reported that Baxter and 48 other people had received subpoenas this month from the Senate Government Affairs Subcommittee on Permanent Oversight and Investigation.
Baxter was discovered by a Precinct 4 constable's deputy, who saw the Mercedes during routine patrol, said police Sgt. Truman Body [note: his last name is Body]. He said the deputy drove by again about 15 minutes later, saw the mortally wounded Baxter and called for an ambulance.
Police had to smash the right-rear window to get into the car. The car was towed to a private storage lot near Richmond for examination.
SNIP...
When Baxter resigned in May 2001, Enron's news release said it was to spend additional time with his family. It said he still would be an Enron consultant.
By all accounts, he did not take on significant other work. Instead, he stepped up his interest in yachting.
But when the company faltered several months later, Baxter was named in dozens of federal lawsuits, along with other former and current Enron executives who sold stock and took profits while lower-level employees were left with little in stock and retirement plans.
Dennis Onstott, a Gulf Coast marine insurer, knew Baxter from selling him yachts years ago and from his largess with Onstott's favorite charity, the Sunshine Kids, which helps children with cancer.
"He was the nicest, most conscientious man. It's hard to imagine him (committing suicide)," said Onstott.
But Jerry V. Mutchler, president of Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas, where Baxter served on the board, saw a different side.
Baxter's activity with the board was at its peak while he was at Enron, Mutchler said. He even was scheduled to join the board's executive committee until he left Enron.
"I consider him larger than life. He was a very generous man who worked very hard and ran very hard," Mutchler said. "That kind of man can be more sensitive than someone who plodded through life."
He said several others active in Junior Achievement had talked with Baxter recently and found "he wasn't very happy these last few weeks."
"He was depressed and disappointed about all that had happened," Mutchler said. "Who wouldn't be?"
SNIP...
TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE, CLICK ON URL ABOVE.
Source: AFBA Insurance.
Accelerated Death Benefits are not payable if there is an absolute assignment; an irrevocable beneficiary who does not give written consent; a court decree involving the life insurance in connection with a divorce agreement; or the illness is due to intentionally self-inflicted injury or attempted suicide.
Soure: NACDA Insurance.
How many do I need to post?
You are.
The Harris County Medical Examiner ruled it a suicide.
Who ruled it a murder?
LOL! Undoubtedly the Liberal X42 would agree.
(rofl.. "It's the Bribes Stupid!")
Something so basic it cannot be denied: "The Liberal (s) application of cash makes all things possible"
Oh S#it..
I can help here. In Ft Bend county the 4 JP's take turns being on duty as we do not have a medical examiner. The PCT 4 JP, Jim Richards is a damn fool. I wouldn't hire him to draw up a will for a 10 year old with no money!
I ASSURE you that the PCT 4 JP, Jim Richards is a damn fool. I have told him so, to his face, in public, several times......just hope I don't get a ticket in his area!
No one. I said, may be, an inconclusive statement. The ME could be mistaken.
In my scenario, you had drawn a conclusion and I had not. Therefore you would be the only on who could be jumping to conclusions.
I think they mentioned some small pieces of yellow paper.
With one missing, and no fingerprints.....
I am sure it was found with the triger guard around his thumb,
upside down. And he had a perscription for Paxil in his pocket.
Maybe.
But, given the exposure of this case, the experience of the Harris County ME, and some working knowledge of forensic pathology, I'd bet on the ME.
In my scenario, you had drawn a conclusion and I had not. Therefore you would be the only on who could be jumping to conclusions.
In your scenario, I drew a conclusion based on the opinion of a respected Medical Examiner.
If that's jumping to conclusions, then how high should I leap?
1) Why did you suddenly surface on January 21st?
2) WHY haven't those Enron execs you're always decrying headed where US law can't touch them?
You've got answers on seemingly every other aspect on this story - how come nothing on this last aspect? All you guys do is cite 'murder' as their only possible option to keepiong their fat out of the fire - rational people *know* there is more than one answer to their predicament.
As to your 'surfacing' as you did - we discovered a demo-plant disruptor about three weeks ago on a thread. VERY similar MO to what you're showing now.
Houstoncurmudgen stated...... In Ft Bend county the 4 JP's take turns being on duty as we do not have a medical examiner. The PCT 4 JP, Jim Richards is a damn fool.
What county was the guy in?
Houstoncurmudgen stated...... In Ft Bend county the 4 JP's take turns being on duty as we do not have a medical examiner. The PCT 4 JP, Jim Richards is a damn fool.
What county was the guy in?
He was in Sugar Land, Ft Bend county. We do not have a Medical Examiner in this county so the county and all the towns use Harris County (Houston) which is the next county over.
From the article.....
Because the evidence of suicide was considered so strong, Fort Bend County Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace James Richard initially chose not to order an autopsy.
"There just wasn't any evidence of foul play," said Richard, noting that police did not request an autopsy.
However, because of the attention being focused on Baxter's death, he changed his mind just before noon.
Maybe you could source your info for us. Surely you wouldn't make something like that up. Would you? I hope not. Your credibility is already suffering.
I didnt see that in any news accounts. Seems highly unlikely that our tin-foil amateur sleuths would have any such first hand knowledge so I would be very suspicious. Most likely something that some one thought might sound good but is not true.
What I read was the autopsy was iniated when the official who initially ruled it a suicide found out from all the press inquiries that this was somebody that there was goign to be a lot questions about. The Medical Examiner has now, following a complete autopsy, ruled the death a suicide.
The Harris County ME reported, tonight, that the death is a suicide.
The above quote is from the Houston Chronicle article that is the subject of this thread.
He was in Sugar Land, Ft Bend county. We do not have a Medical Examiner in this county so the county and all the towns use Harris County (Houston) which is the next county over.
This is from HoustonCurmudgeon, in post #137, just above yours.
So, about my credibility.......
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