By Paul Hampel
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. — Jerry “J.D.” Roth, who was suspended from his job as Caseyville’s police chief last month after being charged with felony official misconduct, killed himself Thursday morning in the back yard of his home in Fairview Heights, St. Clair County Coroner Rick Stone said.
Stone said Roth shot himself with a shotgun at his home in the 9400 block of Avalon Drive. Fairview Heights’ new police chief, Nick Gailius, said Roth was found in back yard. He said police went there because Roth had been texting people who became concerned for his well-being.
Roth, 56, was charged May 9. He was accused of fraudulently receiving some unspecified benefit through a contract involving a 2003 Dodge Ram truck and taking luggage purchased with village funds.
Investigators said concerns had been raised about Roth’s personal use of the truck. They said the village obtained it through a drug asset forfeiture, spent money on maintenance and eventually sold it to a used vehicle dealer from whom Roth bought it the next day.
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