Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing
An investigation has been launched after a judge turned a gun on himself inside his courtroom on his last day in office.
On the morning of New Year’s Eve (31 December, 2024), the dead body of Judge Stephen Yekel was found inside Effingham County State Court with a gunshot wound on what would have been his last day on the bench.
It is believed the Georgia state judge and father-of-four died by suicide.
Yekel was appointed to the state court position in June 2022 by Gov. Brian Kemp, and had been a practicing lawyer for more than 45 years.
In his career, he worked as a special agent for Georgia’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Unit, an investigator at the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office and was a former assistant district attorney in Chatham County.
The tragic news comes as the 74-year-old had recently lost a bid for re-election, according to reports by WSAV.
His re-election campaign was reportedly blighted by infidelity claims and an accusation that Yekel had asked a police officer not to give him a citation in a car accident, according to a Facebook post written by his ex-wife, Lisa Yekel, in June.
Lisa addressed and denied the rumors, writing: “The Steve Yekel I know never would have asked the police officer not to give him a citation. He has always taken responsibility for his actions.”
The couple also apparently got into financial difficulty over a failed daycare business, as his ex-wife admitted she used his life savings to keep the business open.
While she urged people to re-elect him, Yekel lost to Judge Melissa M Calhoun. After suffering the defeat, Yekel then reportedly tried to resign from his position as he wrote in a letter to Governor Kemp that he felt disappointed with the low turnout for his election.
When a judge resigns from their position, a new one is appointed by the Governor as opposed to being voted in.
Yekel believed his position was ‘too important to be decided by only six percent of eligible voters’. However, Gov Kemp reportedly rejected the request to maintain the ‘will of the people of Effingham County’.
Yekel was also facing legal action from court employee, Lisa Crawford, who alleged she was wrongfully terminated from her position by the late judge and was seeking $10,000 in damages, WTOC reports.
Effington County Sheriff, Jimmy McDuffie, confirmed Yekel’s body was discovered at around 10am but said it appeared the judge had shot himself either late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.
McDuffie also said he understood Yekel had sent a letter about the resignation to the Governor’s office.
The shocking discovery closed the courtroom on Tuesday until tomorrow (Thursday, January 2).
“While we are unable to provide comment on an open investigation, Judge Yekel’s family and loved ones are in all our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time,” Kemp’s office said in a statement to News 3.
The Effingham County Board of Commissioners also released a statement on Yekel’s death, which read: “The Effingham County Board of Commissioners and staff are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Judge Steve Yekel at the Effingham County Courthouse today and we offer our condolences to his family and loved ones.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741
