In something of a surprise, the investigation into the death by gunshot of a "rising star" aide to Virginia Sen. Jim Webb (which I detailed yesterday) seems to be continuing, not winding down. A day ago, suicide seemed the likely cause -- a handgun was found under his body by the side of the road near his vehcile -- and that may still be the case, but police have now searched Fred Hutchins' apartment, taken his computer and various documents, cellphone and bank records, and failed to come to any conclusion so far.
The Roanoke Times story today is headline: "Questions linger in death of Webb aide."
Meanwhile, some friends of the young man, who was 26, have mentioned that he had been suffering from severe migraines, but others question this as any sort of cause of anything. I got an email from a friend who had been set to see Hutchins early this week for a meeting that never took place. He writes: "Great guy. We're all shocked and puzzled. He was universally liked. Fred was a great Democrat who was funny, witty and passionate about politics."
Some apparently can't believe he would kill himself on the verge of an exciting fall campaign and his expectation of celebrating an Obama victory.
The Roanoke Times story (link below) includes the following:
Friends and associates wondered where Hutchins had been in the early hours of Tuesday, and none, to this point, has been able to determine where he had been or where he was going. And if the gunshot wound was self inflicted, they questioned why the apparently happy and successful political operative would have taken his own life. Friends said he had recently complained of migraine headaches, but they stopped short of linking the malady to his death.
Del. Onzlee Ware, D-Roanoke, with whom Hutchins worked closely as a campaign manager and legislative aide, declined to speculate about the cause of his death. He said Hutchins often had early morning appointments and breakfast meetings. "It wouldn't be inconceivable that he was out early for a meeting," Ware said.
Ware said that Hutchins had suffered from migraines for years and had told him of being under a doctor's care for them in June. "I think we're caught between trying to say whether he's depressed or if it was something else. I'm searching myself," he said.
Hutchins' mood seemed buoyant Saturday night, when socializing at Corned Beef & Co., a downtown Roanoke restaurant and bar, said Craig Wright, host of the Cox Channel 9 television show "In The News." Hutchins was a regular guest on the show, Wright said. "He seemed fabulous" on Saturday and at other times the two met lately, Wright said.
Here is the link:
http://www.roanoke.com/...