Georgia judge dies by suicide at courthouse: officials

Authorities: State court judge dies by suicide at Effingham County Courthouse

A state court judge is dead after authorities say he took his own life at the Effingham County Courthouse.

Updated: 1:08 PM EST Dec 31, 2024

Um, do you have any opening statements or do you want to just go straight into? I hadn’t really prepared anything. Um, at approximately 10, 10:30 this morning. We received *** call that there was *** possible suicide at the courthouse. We came over. The court folks And already found Judge Yeo. It appears to be *** self-inflicted gunshot wound. However, it’s *** pending investigation. We’re going for an autopsy and we’ll know more as the, the interview I’m at the uh investigation goes on forward. Um, you said that he was found around between 10 and 11 this morning. Is there any idea of when he may have actually, uh, committed suicide? It looks like it was last night and we’re going on the pretext that, uh, suicide, but you know, you had to do everything to, to see that it is so. Was there any note or anything left behind? Did you guys find anything? Have you been to the residence yet? Uh, we understand there was note sent to the governor. I’m not sure yet what that is, but we’ll, we’ll look at that. No note as Right now. There is *** copy of that note circulating on social media. We haven’t been able to confirm its authenticity yet, so just clarify that. But it appeared that Judge Yekel had tried to resign from his position and that the governor’s office may have rejected that resignation. Are y’all able to confirm whether any of that is accurate? Yes, it is accurate. That happened. Uh, one day last week, I think it’s when all that came out, uh, the resignation was supposed to been final yesterday, but the governor didn’t accept it. I don’t remember the date that that came out, but it was one day last week. Also on social media there was *** former assistant of the previous judge that worked here who said that there was *** lawsuit against the um Judge Yeko. Was there any belief that this had any involvement and with that, is there any result of what that investigation might have been through? I hadn’t heard of any anything on that, um, no lawsuit that I’m aware of, but you know they do those through private attorneys, so we don’t know about it until papers are served. Can you talk about Yokel’s um previous? Does he have any, you know, any charges against him or any kind of criminal activity? No, nothing that, nothing that we’re aware of. Um, I talked to. Linda Smith at UBI this morning and she didn’t say anything about it but we text back and forth with her. What are the other agencies involved in this investigation? Right now just the sheriff’s office. Will GBI be involved through the investigation? No, not at this point. Uh, GBI will do the autopsy. Of course we have to do that through them, but they, they’ll be involved in as far as the autopsy goes. Is there any word on who discovered his body? It was one of my deputies. I don’t know right now which one, but it was one of our, our deputies, so. And that was in *** courtroom, or, um. Was court is supposed to be in session today? No, he didn’t have any court this week. Did he have anything yesterday? Uh, I don’t remember. I was in and out yesterday, but I don’t remember of anything. Usually this time of year, everything’s winding down, so you don’t have too much, but he could have, but I’m just not sure. Um, Sheriff, I know that, you know, y’all in the legal community obviously work very closely together. Um, do you have any comments just for the community or the judge’s family at this time? Yes, and, you know, we want to offer them our condolences, uh, you know, this is never good for anybody. The family’s distraught. I mean it’s supposed to be *** happy time this time of year, and now they’ve got this. I think he’s got some sons that are law enforcement too, so they know what it’s like, but I can’t imagine if they have anything that they need from us we’ll be available and and make stuff available to them going forward. Are you asking for any help from the community on possibly uncovering *** reason for this, any me or premeditated reason for what happened? Of course if anybody knows of anything we would appreciate *** phone call um there’s not much that we know in the community that that would be unless he spoke to somebody uh individually but uh we have talked with his secretary and she’s been with us the entire time through the investigation. Has she hinted on anything? Apparently she didn’t know anything either so it was all *** surprise to her as well. for me. Thank you. Thank y’all. Thank you.

Authorities: State court judge dies by suicide at Effingham County Courthouse

A state court judge is dead after authorities say he took his own life at the Effingham County Courthouse.

Updated: 1:08 PM EST Dec 31, 2024

Above video: Effingham County sheriff discusses the investigation thus farA state court judge is dead after authorities say he took his own life Tuesday at the Effingham County Courthouse.According to the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, Judge Stephen Yekel died by suicide after shooting himself.Officials believe it happened sometime overnight. He was found Tuesday in the courtroom by a sheriff’s deputy. The ECSO was notified between 10 and 10:30 a.m.The ECSO is investigating. An autopsy will be conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.Below video: The scene outside the courthouseYekel, who lost his bid for reelection earlier this year, sent a resignation letter to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on December 6. In it, he said he would resign effective December 30, one day before his term was to end.By resigning, it would cause Kemp to appoint a new judge to fill the position, which would nullify the results of the election.Kemp responded on December 12, denying the request.Additional information has not been released. Check back for updates to this developing story.If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available. Call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.TRENDING STORIESFuneral Plans Announced: Where and when you can pay your respects to former President Jimmy Carter’Significant Damage’: Crews respond to house fire on Tybee IslandPolice investigating suspicious death at Beaufort apartment complex

EFFINGHAM COUNTY, Ga. —

Above video: Effingham County sheriff discusses the investigation thus far

A state court judge is dead after authorities say he took his own life Tuesday at the Effingham County Courthouse.

According to the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, Judge Stephen Yekel died by suicide after shooting himself.

Officials believe it happened sometime overnight. He was found Tuesday in the courtroom by a sheriff’s deputy. The ECSO was notified between 10 and 10:30 a.m.

The ECSO is investigating. An autopsy will be conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Below video: The scene outside the courthouse

Yekel, who lost his bid for reelection earlier this year, sent a resignation letter to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on December 6. In it, he said he would resign effective December 30, one day before his term was to end.

By resigning, it would cause Kemp to appoint a new judge to fill the position, which would nullify the results of the election.

Kemp responded on December 12, denying the request.

Additional information has not been released. Check back for updates to this developing story.

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available. Call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

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