Former Idaho Rep. Brandon Hixon, 36 was found with a self-inflicted gun shot wound to the head Tuesday morning.
The former lawmaker was under investigation for alleged sex abuse.
Spokesman.com reports:
House Speaker Scott Bedke just announced “some bad news” to the House: “Former Rep. Brandon Hixon has tragically taken his own life. Our thoughts go first to family and friends who are suffering from this loss.”
[…]
Hixon, R-Caldwell, resigned from the House in November amid a criminal investigation into sexual abuse, though no charges were filed; he subsequently was twice arrested for driving under the influence, with the first arrest also including a charge of resisting arrest.
Hixon was first elected to the House in 2012; he was re-elected in 2014 with 58.9 percent of the vote. After Hixon’s resignation, Gov. Butch Otter appointed Jarom Wagoner, a city planner from Caldwell, to serve out the remainder of Hixon’s term.
KTVB-TV reports that Caldwell Police found Hixon’s body at about 7 a.m. at his home. The Idaho Press-Tribune reports that he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, according to the Canyon County Coroner’s Office.
Hixon is the second lawmaker under investigation for sex abuse to commit suicide recently.
Kentucky State Representative Dan Johnson, who was under investigation for alleged sexual molestation, committed suicide on December 13th.
Johnson posted what appears to be his suicide note on Facebook, in which he still maintained his innocence. He had previously called the allegations “part of a smear campaign against Republicans.”
