Springfield Mayor Dead From Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound

The mayor of my former hometown of Springfield, Illinois, Tim Davlin, was found dead this morning in his home. The Springfield Journal-Register is reporting Davlin died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Davlin missed an ordered court appearance this morning where he was to answer for his failure to account for his financial handling of his cousin's probate estate over which he had served as the administrator. A judge ordered him removed after he failed to appear in court this morning. Eyebrows were raised in late October of this year when the IRS placed a tax lien of nearly $90,000 on his Springfield home for unpaid income taxes owed over a 3-year period. Davlin told reporters at the time the disputed taxes involved investments he had cashed in years earlier to purchase the home in which he currently resides so he would have no mortgage. Davlin, a Democrat, has in the past boasted of his friendship with President Barack Obama. “I was stunned and saddened by the news of Mayor Tim Davlin’s passing,” U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, also a Springfield recent, said upon learning of Davlin's death. “His work with my office always reflected his dedication to our hometown. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this tragic moment.”

UPDATE: An Illinois State Police spokesman delivered what has to be the most confounding press conference a group of reporters ever attended. Despite early media reports indicating Davlin died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, the police spokesman would not confirm that. He wouldn't confirm the Mayor had suffered a gunshot wound. He wouldn't confirm a gun was found at the scene. He wouldn't confirm who made the 911 call to Springfield Police early this morning, suggesting police didn't know who made the call or from what phone the call was placed. He wouldn't confirm the substance of what was communicated in the 911 call. The police spokesman confirmed Sangamon Co. Coroner Susan Boone, who has come under fire for her office's recent handling of death investigations, will be in charge of an autopsy to be conducted tomorrow. The spokesman refused to comment on whether state police were confident in her ability to handle a death investigation. Instead, he said state police would be present to observe the autopsy. State police investigators recently suggested Boone’s record-keeping is so slipshod it may constitute a felony. See video of the Illinois State Police presser this afternoon below. Reporters were perplexed by the fact city hall contacts had freely mentioned to them Davlin had died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, but the state police spokesman could not confirm anything supporting their statements. Springfield police initially responded to the 911 call but immediately notified the state police to take over the investigation when they learned the victim was Mayor Davlin. The spokesman indicated state police investigators were canvassing Davlin's neighborhood to learn any additional evidence that might be gathered for purposes of their investigation into the cause of Davlin's death.



UPDATE: Sangamon Co. Coroner says the cause of death is apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest.