Jackley: Ex-Official’s Death Was a Suicide

The State Attorney General's office says former South Dakota Tourism and Economic Development Secretary Richard Benda of Sioux Falls died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound and that no evidence of foul play has been found.

Benda's body was found by a family member on October 22nd near Lake Andes in rural Charles Mix County, where he had reportedly gone hunting. Investigators determined that he had died on October 20th.

Attorney General Marty Jackley says the Probe by the State Division of Criminal Investigation, which included the Minnehaha County Coroner's office, concluded that Benda died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the abdomen and that his death was a suicide.