Young Aide to Jim Webb Found Dead -- Suicide or Murder?

Fred Hutchins, Jr., an aide to Sen. Jim Webb -- and described as a "rising star" in Virginia Democratic politics -- was found shot dead on Tuesday beside a Botetourt County road. A gun was found beneath his body but the medical examiner has not ruled it suicide or murder yet. He was 26 and a longtime political activist.

Sheriff Ronnie Sprinkle said Hutchins' body was found outside his SUV-type vehicle, on an embankment along U.S. 220 north of the town of Fincastle. He had a single gunshot wound in the head.

Hutchins had worked in Webb's Roanoke office since the day it opened, Webb spokeswoman Jessica Smith said, and had become its chief. Last year the John Edwards' campaign attempted to woo him away to become a chief strategist in Virginia but he remained loyal to Webb.

Webb issued a written statement: "Freddie was one of the most honorable and friendly individuals I have had the pleasure of knowing. He was a mainstay in the Roanoke community and a friend to all who knew him. My condolences go out to his mother, Karen, and the rest of his family and friends. He will be greatly missed."

A Webb spokeswoman said that Hutchins was a rising star "and such a great kid, so full of life, so sweet and so well loved."

A state lawmaker for whom Hutchins worked told a local TV station, "At 13-years-old, Fred had political cards, and it said Fred W. Hutchins Jr., Political Consultant ... at 13. " Onzlee Ware, according to WDBJ7.com, said, "So then he announced to me that one day he knew I was going to run for public office and when that day came he was going to be my campaign manager."

Hutchins later helped get Ware elected as the first black to gain the nod for that body in western Virginia. Ware said yesterday that Hutchins, who was white, was probably "called a n----- lover" many times.

"It's hard to believe, but Freddie Hutchins at age 26 was a grizzled veteran of politics," said Dave "Mudcat" Saunders, a Roanoke political consultant. Saunders told the Roanoke Times that last year he offered Hutchins a higher-profile job as the deputy senior strategist for rural affairs for presidential candidate John Edwards of North Carolina.

"A deputy senior strategist at age 25? That's stuff Harvard kids dream about," Saunders said. "But he had absolute loyalty to Jim Webb."

Articles in the past described Hutchins as a "NASCAR-loving country boy" who loved to hunt and had a permit for a concealed weapon. He said that he considered Webb a role model because of his support for the poor and working-class.

UPDATE: Webb paid tribute to Hutchens on the floor of the Senate today, noting among other things that he would have surely run for office some day.

UPDATE on Thursday: Still no ruling on his death and police have now entered his home and taken computer etc.
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Greg Mitchell's new book is So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, the Pundits -- and the President -- Failed on Iraq. He is editor of Editor & Publisher.

Comments

[Norge]

tragic case.

[TwoToothTammi]

Think of the poem "Richard Cory".

[Norge]

He saw something he could not live and he quit or someone else could not have him live with it.
Why way out there and not in the comfort of his own home if he was so depressed?

Truth is often stranger than fiction.

[saltysea]

Sincere condolences.

[PAposter]

This is a very sad story. My condolences to the family of Fred Hutchins.

[TwoToothTammi]

With all he had going for him, could it be he made an indescretion that threatened him with exposure?
I seriously doubt he was the victim of a random holdup.

[ggmome]

This part of VA is a dangerous commodity! This is my adopted home, but not my very most favorite 'people' place! I am sorry for the mother and family of Mr. Hutchins. My condolence and prayers are with you.

[darthdarcy]

What is it with Webb and guns and now this..!

Very suspicious...!

[sanywhere]

why not wait till it is investigated before putting that out there. right now we should just be thinking good thoughts for the his family. this is not a time to be political.

[CtJean]

Yes, do jump in with your politics - we are so concered with your thoughts - NOT!

I feel sadness for his family and friends - our prayers are with you.

[barackobama4prez]

Terrible! I happen to know that VA is very very very very very racist still. That's why I find it hard to belive it's actually in play this year.

[NovaBoy]

Virginia is no more racist than anywhere else.

[YunekFlava]

Right.

[SCVADem]

Depends on which part of Virginia you're talking about. NoVA and Hampton Roads aren't, for the most part, but the western side of the state isn't as progressive as the rest of us.

[PAposter]

Oh yes, Virginia is far more racist overall than other states, are you kidding me?

[Ramirez]

Give that a rest, please.

[biglover]

So was Hutchins black? Am I missing something here = bararckomba4prez?

[meanguy]

"I happen to know that VA is very very very very very racist still" ...that's a LOAD

[shengirl]

I guess that's why Virginia elected the first black governor in the nation, Doug Wilder, 20 years ago.

[Fotios]

I would be interested in who he pissed off recently. Has he written or said anything publically that could piss of the wrong people?

[notthistime]

that is besides the point. Just because you piss someone off does not give them the right to take a life.

[im10ashus]

So very sad. My condolences to his friends and family.

[ICanHasDemocracy]

Sad and tragic. There's more to this than meets the eye. A 26 year old rising political star wanting to suicide? Doesn't seem to fit.

[Grunty1]

Agreed, it doesn't fit.

[sanywhere]

it never "fits". if you have ever experienced someone who committed suicide, someone close, you would not write that.

[RoloTomassi]

True, it is often hard to make sense of [unless terminal illness or dire problems are apparent], but it is rare for an individual with excellent prospects to do themselves in for no apparent reason.

That said, an issue with depression / mental health is sometimes the unknown factor.

[MargaretO]

It never fits to anyone except the person who commits suicide.

This is so sad.

[shengirl]

you have no idea of his personal life. Maybe despite his professional success he suffered some personal tragedy, a breakup with someone, etc. that was more than he could deal with. There is more to a person than their professional success. Don't sit in judgement till you have all the facts.

[nellie]

Sad.

[scorpioleidy]

Wow, this is quite sad.

[ABCD]

Sounds like a great kid who was living his dream. Not like someone who didn't want to be here. I hope they find out who is responsible for this and throw him/her under the jail.

My condolences to family and friends.