Mystery Surrounds Death of Mississippi Lawmaker
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Mississippi House of Representatives(MENDENHALL, Miss.) — A Mississippi lawmaker was found dead Sunday with a gunshot wound to the head in the home of a former state legislator, authorities said.
Rep. Jessica Upshaw, 53, is believed to have killed herself, police said. No arrests have been made.
“It appeared she had a gunshot wound to her head; it appeared to be self inflicted,” Simpson County Sheriff Kenneth Lewis told ABC News affiliate WLOX-TV.
Upshaw was found in the Mendenhall, Miss., home of former state Rep. Clint Rotenberry Sunday morning.
Both lawmakers were Republicans.
Upshaw, an unmarried lawyer, was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives in 2004. Her home district is more than 100 miles from Rotenberry’s home where she was discovered.
Rotenberry served in the state legislature from 1992 to 2007.
Calls to Rottenberry’s home were not answered.
“Deborah and I were saddened to hear of the passing of Rep. Jessica Upshaw,” Gov. Phil Bryant said in a statement. “I have known Jessica for many years as an unselfish and dedicated public servant. This is a tragic loss for her family and all Mississippians, and our thoughts and prayers go out to her family during this difficult time.”
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