Former Enron Exec's Death Believed Suicide (Contains facts inconsistent with conspiracy theories)

Houston Chronicle ^ | January 26, 2002 | Eric Hanson and Mary Flood

[Wolfstar]

Police examine note in apparent suicide

By ERIC HANSON and MARY FLOOD

Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle

SUGAR LAND -- A former Enron executive who resigned last year -- reportedly after complaining about accounting practices that led to the firm's collapse -- was found dead Friday, an apparent suicide.

Police said they expect the autopsy results on John Clifford Baxter, the former Enron Corp. vice chairman, to be released Monday.

SNIP...

...Baxter, 43, was discovered about 2:20 a.m. in the driver's seat of his Mercedes-Benz, parked in the 5800 block of Palm Royale Boulevard.

He had been shot once in the head and a .38-caliber revolver was found inside the locked car, investigators said.

Sugar Land police were examining a suicide note, said [Sugar Land police spokeswoman Pat] Whitty, but she would not disclose its contents or say where it was found.

Sources familiar with Baxter's death said Enron was mentioned in the note.

Baxter's car was being inspected for fingerprints or other evidence this weekend.

SNIP...

His luxury sedan was parked in a cut-through in the median of the tree-lined boulevard, within blocks of the $700,000 home he shared with his wife and two children in Sugar Land's most exclusive neighborhood.

Because the evidence of suicide was considered so strong, Fort Bend County Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace James Richard initially chose not to order an autopsy.

"There just wasn't any evidence of foul play," said Richard, noting that police did not request an autopsy.

However, because of the attention being focused on Baxter's death, he changed his mind just before noon.

"I decided to use an overabundance of caution," Richard said.

SNIP...

He had hired an attorney and knew it was likely he was about to be deposed and questioned by lawyers, federal investigators and maybe even Congress. In addition to questions about his work at Enron, there were questions about his own sale of more than 577,000 shares that garnered him $35.2 million between October 1998 and early 2001.

SNIP...

Also Friday, ABC News reported that Baxter and 48 other people had received subpoenas this month from the Senate Government Affairs Subcommittee on Permanent Oversight and Investigation.

Baxter was discovered by a Precinct 4 constable's deputy, who saw the Mercedes during routine patrol, said police Sgt. Truman Body [note: his last name is Body]. He said the deputy drove by again about 15 minutes later, saw the mortally wounded Baxter and called for an ambulance.

Police had to smash the right-rear window to get into the car. The car was towed to a private storage lot near Richmond for examination.

SNIP...

When Baxter resigned in May 2001, Enron's news release said it was to spend additional time with his family. It said he still would be an Enron consultant.

By all accounts, he did not take on significant other work. Instead, he stepped up his interest in yachting.

But when the company faltered several months later, Baxter was named in dozens of federal lawsuits, along with other former and current Enron executives who sold stock and took profits while lower-level employees were left with little in stock and retirement plans.

Dennis Onstott, a Gulf Coast marine insurer, knew Baxter from selling him yachts years ago and from his largess with Onstott's favorite charity, the Sunshine Kids, which helps children with cancer.

"He was the nicest, most conscientious man. It's hard to imagine him (committing suicide)," said Onstott.

But Jerry V. Mutchler, president of Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas, where Baxter served on the board, saw a different side.

Baxter's activity with the board was at its peak while he was at Enron, Mutchler said. He even was scheduled to join the board's executive committee until he left Enron.

"I consider him larger than life. He was a very generous man who worked very hard and ran very hard," Mutchler said. "That kind of man can be more sensitive than someone who plodded through life."

He said several others active in Junior Achievement had talked with Baxter recently and found "he wasn't very happy these last few weeks."

"He was depressed and disappointed about all that had happened," Mutchler said. "Who wouldn't be?"

SNIP...

TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE, CLICK ON URL ABOVE.

[Nubbin]

Thanks sinkspur. I missed that bit of information.

[sinkspur]

Freeper 007 didn't do the research.

ONE insurance company covering suicide outside a two year window and charging high premiums (this insurance company also covers sky-diving and bull-riding) is indicative of.....well, nothing.

[ohmage]

Your explanation answered one of the two questions I had. Thanks for the Mercedes door lock seminar.

Say,uh, you wouldn't know where he was coming from at that hour, wouldja?

[Freeper 007]

The one you reference is some kind of "high risk" policy that has sky-high premiums.

What are you talking about? I didn't reference anything.

It is a standard exception to most life insurance policies. I know you love being the one to throw cold water on wild-assed theories, but you are setting yourself up to eat some crow on this one.

http://www.quality-ins.com/definitions.html

Scroll down to Suicide Clause

Suicide Clause - Most life insurance policies provide that if the insured commits suicide within a specified period, usually two years, after the issue date, the company's liability will be limited to a return of premiums paid.

I'm just trying to address a simple fact here. There is no reason for you to throw your attitude around.

[CWRWinger]

If you can't provide a substantive answer to my question, then don't do this Dephi thing.

Why should not the boss question an employees work? If a boss doesn't question, he's not going to get good results from the employee.

Besides, 'you get what you inspect'. You wouldn't buy a car just on the printed brochure and a salesman's word would you?

How much more serious and important is it to know what we are getting from those we elect and appoint to office. In this country it's our right to know and question.

BTW, I have this nice used car......... trust me.

[_Jim]

Just remember the powers that be are circling the wagons and he was a loose cannon in their eyes.

They have all been meeting together to strategize for months and feeling each other out to see who is in and who is out. It has been "we all hang together or we will all hang separately".

He was probably the one who they didn't trust to keep his mouth shut and develop early alzheimers.

Something you conspiracy theorists have to explain to me, since I'm more than just a little dense when it comes to 'spinning' this stuff that you closet Dems (yes, you closet-Dem) do -

Wouldn't it be easier for these other so-called 'guilty' Directors and Vice Presidenst and Presidents and Vice Chairmen and Chairmen to head offshore or overseas, esacpe the law and live like Kings on their millions?

Methinks youse guys are just slinging mud and putting no real thought into this.

Say - *why did* you come crawling out of the woodwork in the 21st of this month?

Doing a 'Find in Forum' on you only shows activity back that far ...

[razorback-bert]

I once managed to lock my keys in my running BMW, which BMW stated was impossible.

[_Jim]

Why should not the boss question an employees work?

There is a power higher than just that of the 'boss' - and that would be one's own professional ethics and desire and drive to seek and get at the truth.

That - and peer review.

The boss, after all, could be a complete idiot, whereas, in a peer review (before being subsequently published in a technical journal) can be an even tougher and more demanding ordeal.

[CWRWinger]

When it comes to government apologists, never could it be stated truer than 'the worm dieth not'.

I'm sure the FBI agents flaming children at Waco were really worried about peer pressure. Yeah sure. Try again. What's your point?

[_Jim]

What the hell was that diatribe? Wanna address the issue rather than just blabbering a bunch of crap all over the board?

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Ok then, lets just think about how much effort someone is going to put into it, to make it look like a suicide.
Why not just leave the door unlocked?
And I don't think it was being over-simplistic. It was a reasonable conclusion, seeing that I'm not part of the investigation and am not privy to every little detail of the case.

[Jhoffa_]

When you begin with the knowledge that the players involved have tens of millions to throw around.. then expect people to speculate.

I know it's not cut and dried to me just yet.. No Way.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

"Say,uh, you wouldn't know where he was coming from at that hour, wouldja? "

I could tell ya'. But then I'd hafta kill ya'.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Years ago when I worked in the Automotive Electronics Accessory biz, we had an axiom that we lived by:
"All things are possible, given liberal application of large amounts of cash."

[Sueann]

I read somewhere here on FR that the autopsy was initiated because although the police found a bullet exit wound, there was no sign of the bullet in the vehicle. Strange ...??

[maestro]

.............'Baxter, 43, was discovered about 2:20 a.m.'.............

Wow!!!......................................................... 2:20 A.M.,...............right in the middle of RUSH HOUR!!

Parking in the 'turn' lane at that hour could be very dangerous with all that traffic flow!!!

[Woodkirk]

Your lack of discernment is showing --

[Sueann]

Suicide doesn't disqualify from insurance - it only disqualifies a ruling of "accidental death" (such as murder), which gives the beneficiary double the policy amount.

[eazdzit]

It is settled. You and Stinky both working this thread from the suicide angle, is like broadcasting. It must have been murder.

By the way, if it looks like it had to be suicide to you and it looks like it may have been murder to me. Who is jumping to conclusions?

[Jhoffa_]

Suicide doesn't disqualify from insurance..

Suicide clauses are standard practice..

I never heard of anyone who paid a small premium and who's beneficiaries were guaranteed a fortune without the stipulation that they couldn't kill themselves being part of the contract.