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Minnesota lottery director apparently kills self (responding to audit)
Billings Gazette ^ | 1.28.04

Posted on 01/29/2004 11:16:56 AM PST by mhking

MINNEAPOLIS - The longtime director of the Minnesota State Lottery apparently committed suicide Tuesday, a day after meeting with legislative auditors examining the lottery's operations, officials said.

George R. Andersen, 53, had a wound that appeared to be from a knife, said Cmdr. Scott Malinosky of the Washington County sheriff's office. He said a note was recovered, but declined to describe it.

Malinosky said authorities were called by Andersen's family about 7 a.m. after they found him outside their home northeast of St. Paul. He was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead.

Legislative Auditor James Nobles said in a statement that he met with Andersen on Monday to discuss a report on the lottery due late next month.

"We had a cordial and productive meeting, and when I left I thought George had handled the meeting well and he seemed in good health," the statement said. Nobles declined to discuss the content of the audit or elaborate on the meeting.

Last year, the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy concluded that it costs far more to run the lottery in Minnesota than in comparable states.

In response, lawmakers placed stricter limits on operating expenses, which resulted in 34 layoffs in October.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty called Andersen "a tireless advocate for Minnesota." In the 2002 budget year, the lottery contributed more than $43 million to the state's environmental efforts, according to the lottery's Web site.

Andersen, who had been director of the lottery since it began in 1990, was married with two grown children, according to a statement from the lottery.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Minnesota
KEYWORDS: suicide
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To: sarasota
Suicide with a knife? Huh?

Yes, at this point the story is not passing the smell test. Men don't slit their wrists (if that is what happened - the story does a good job of avoiding the facts). Of course, real men don't stick their heads in ovens, either:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1067715/posts

21 posted on 01/29/2004 11:56:49 AM PST by PAR35
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To: Tijeras_Slim
Yup, that's the way the ball bounces.


22 posted on 01/29/2004 11:58:24 AM PST by GigaDittos (Bumper sticker: "Vote Democrat, it's easier than getting a job.")
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To: GigaDittos
It could be worse. The authorities here are re-opening a suicide case from 1979. The body was found burned, wrapped in a sheet, and hidden under a floor...
23 posted on 01/29/2004 12:18:53 PM PST by chadwimc
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To: chadwimc
I saw that thread. C'mon now, a suicide? Get real.
24 posted on 01/29/2004 12:24:24 PM PST by sarasota
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To: Sabretooth
Wait'll the audit is completed, then we'll know. I'll bet his hand was in the till and had been for some time.
25 posted on 01/29/2004 12:54:57 PM PST by theDentist (Boston: So much Liberty, you can buy a Politician already owned by someone else.)
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To: chadwimc
That's a pretty thorough suicide.
26 posted on 01/29/2004 1:36:00 PM PST by redhawk
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To: sarasota
Eliot Smith (the singer) killed himself the same way a few months back. Stab wound to the chest. Very gruesome way to do it.
27 posted on 01/29/2004 2:20:48 PM PST by diamondjoe
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To: PAR35; mhking
Suicide with a knife? Huh? Yes, at this point the story is not passing the smell test. Men don't slit their wrists (if that is what happened - the story does a good job of avoiding the facts). Of course, real men don't stick their heads in ovens, either: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1067715/posts

Yeah and apparently men don't off themselves with prescription drugs either. Utter rubbish. My husband, the late FReeper TrappedInLiberalHell, exited this life by way of pharmaceuticals he found online... after a previous attempt at slashing his wrists. STOP GENERALISING, you guys.

Oh, and on second thoughts, mhking, please take me off your ping list. Three suicide stories in a day really doesn't make for pleasant reading, at least not for this widow. Thanks anyway.
28 posted on 01/29/2004 3:24:54 PM PST by KangarooJacqui (RIP Chris - you made taglines look easy, when they're anything but!)
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To: PAR35; sarasota
Autopsy results, funeral plans announced for lottery director Watch video
Updated: 01-29-2004 01:39:14 PM
(KSTP)


MINNEAPOLIS - An autopsy found that lottery director George Andersen died of hypothermia after cutting his wrists.

Andersen's wife found him outside their Hugo home Tuesday morning. His death came one day after a meeting with a government auditor looking into lottery operations.

The Star Tribune reported auditors are looking at a claim that Andersen steered thousands of dollars to a St. Paul vendor he controlled. In a 2001 lawsuit, Andersen was accused of negotiating deals for the firm Media Rare. The report said he appeared to represent the firm.

The funeral for Andersen will be held Saturday at 3 p.m. at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi.

29 posted on 01/30/2004 8:29:53 AM PST by JLO
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To: sarasota
Minnesotans dont own guns.... and if he worked fo rthe state you can bet he was a Lib
30 posted on 01/30/2004 8:37:03 AM PST by Walkingfeather
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To: JLO
Thanks for the update. That makes much more sense than the original story. Have you seen anything on local media up there as to whether they are still going to classify it as a suicide, or whether they are going to call it accidental? The reports are still being reticent with the facts.
31 posted on 01/30/2004 10:11:13 AM PST by PAR35
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To: PAR35
You're welcome and yes, here's an excerpt from the Mpls. Star Tribune.

Lottery director bothered by government
audit, friends say
The Associated Press

Published January 29, 2004
MNLotteryDirectorDeath


ST. PAUL, Minn. -

Andersen, the only
director in the 14-year
history of the lottery,
committed suicide on
Tuesday, a day after
meeting with a
government auditor
examining the lottery's operations.

Andersen, 53, left a note, which authorities haven't released. He was found
outside his house. An autopsy Wednesday determined he died of hypothermia
after cutting his wrists, said Cmdr. Scott Malinosky of the Washington County
sheriff's office. He said Andersen died of exposure before he could bleed to
death.


The link to the story is http://www.startribune.com/stories/468/4342393.html
but it may or not work. It says you must subscribe. I don't but I can read ~~sometimes.
32 posted on 01/30/2004 11:16:24 AM PST by JLO
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