Exec's death ruled suicide

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

HOUSTON -- A former Enron Corp. vice chairman who died of a gunshot wound to the head committed suicide, a coroner confirmed Saturday.

J. Clifford Baxter, 43, resigned in May and was found dead Friday in a Mercedes-Benz parked not far from his home in the affluent Houston suburb of Sugar Land.

Police found a suicide note and a .38-caliber revolver at his side. The contents and form of the note were not disclosed.

A justice of the peace initially ruled the death a suicide but ordered an autopsy because of the intense interest in the case.

Baxter was named in an explosive warning that another Enron executive sent to company Chairman and Chief Executive Kenneth Lay in August about questionable financial practices.

Enron released a statement Friday, saying: "We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our friend and colleague." Enron spokesman Mark Palmer had no additional comment.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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