Georgia judge is found dead in courtroom on his final day on the bench

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U.S. NEWS
Georgia judge is found dead in courtroom on his final day on the bench
State Court Judge Stephen Yekel, 74, is believed to have died by suicide, authorities said.

{snip picture The Effingham county courthouse in Springfield, Ga.}
The Effingham County Courthouse in Springfield, Ga.Google Maps

Dec. 31, 2024, 6:30 PM EST
By Tim Stelloh and Austin Mullen

A judge was found dead in a Georgia courtroom on what was to have been his last day on the job, authorities said Tuesday. … Effingham County Sheriff’s deputies found State Court Judge Stephen Yekel, 74, on Tuesday morning. He appears to have died by suicide, the sheriff's office said.

Yekel, who was appointed to the bench two years ago by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, lost his election bid earlier this year. His term was scheduled to end Dec. 31, 2024.

{snip}

McDuffie said one of his deputies discovered Yekel’s body after authorities were dispatched to the courthouse on a report of a possible suicide at 10:20 a.m. It appears Yekel may have died Monday night, he said.

Court was not in session Tuesday, the sheriff said, adding that Yekel’s autopsy will be conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

{snip}

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.

Tim Stelloh
Tim Stelloh is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.
Austin Mullen