Schweich spokesman Spence Jackson feared unemployment, suicide note says

Concern over a lack of job prospects may have convinced Spence Jackson to take his own life over the weekend, his final note suggests.

“I’m so sorry. I just can’t take being unemployed again.” Other than the date, Friday, that’s all the note said.

Jefferson City police released the note at a news conference Tuesday at the request of Jackson’s family.

The note confirms what a Jackson friend told The Star Monday — that Jackson, 44, was worried about future employment once a new auditor was appointed to replace his boss, Tom Schweich, who committed suicide Feb. 26.

Schweich and Jackson were Republicans. Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, is expected to appoint a new auditor within weeks. At that point, Jackson would likely have been out of a job.

The note partially clarifies a story that has stunned Missouri’s political community. Jackson was the spokesman for Schweich. Before that, he’d worked as spokesman for other prominent Republicans in the state.

Both men shot themselves to death.

In a statement, Jackson’s family expressed thanks for the expressions of support it has received.

“We thank everyone for their continued prayers for Spence and our family,” spokesman Jeff Layman said in an emailed statement.

“Spence was a loving son, brother, uncle and friend to many,” the statement said. “We also encourage anyone who might need help to seek it and for anyone who might know someone who needs help to encourage them to find it.”

The note may dampen speculation about a political motive behind Jackson’s suicide.

Jackson called for Missouri Republican Party chairman John Hancock to resign shortly after Schweich’s suicide in February. At the time, Jackson accused Hancock and others of falsely claiming Schweich was Jewish in order to help Schweich’s opponents in the governor’s race.

Disputes over how that campaign was conducted, and the subsequent suicides, have triggered internal fights in the state’s Republican Party.

Hancock said he may have said Schweich was Jewish, but did so innocently. He refused to resign.

Friends said Monday that Jackson was angry that Hancock remained at the head of the party despite the controversy. They attributed Jackson’s suicide to frustration over the declining importance of the story.

Authorities said Tuesday that Jackson died Friday of a single gunshot wound from a .357 Magnum revolver.

This story was originally published March 31, 2015 at 1:12 PM with the headline "Schweich spokesman Spence Jackson feared unemployment, suicide note says."