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James Redd, a Blanding physician whose body was found the day after he was charged with artifact theft, appears to have killed himself with carbon monoxide, a family spokesman said Friday.
Redd, 60, was found dead in his Jeep on Thursday next to a pond on his property, said Phil Mueller.
Redd gave no indication of what he was planning and no explanation for his suicide, said Mueller, who owns radio stations in Moab and is married to Redd's niece.
"The night before, he dictated medical records at home before he went to bed," Mueller said.
San Juan County Chief Deputy Grayson Redd said James Redd left a note at his home about 6:30 a.m. Thursday saying he was going to the pond. When he did not return by 10 a.m., the family called their LDS bishop. After a brief search, the bishop called the sheriff's office, which joined in the search.
The Jeep was obstructed from the searchers' view, but a passing neighbor was able to see it and told the bishop, said Grayson Redd, who is a distant relative of the doctor.
The bishop found the Jeep and James Redd about 4 p.m.
On Wednesday, James Redd was charged with one felony count of theft of Indian tribal property as a co-defendant with his wife, Jeanne Redd, 59, who faces two counts. The Redds were among 24 suspects from Utah, Colorado and New Mexico charged with felonies for allegedly trafficking in archaeological artifacts protected under federal law.
Beside his
A viewing for James Redd will be 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tuesday at San Juan Mortuary, 370 S. Main St. in Blanding. Services will be at noon Tuesday at the Blanding LDS Stake Center, 800 N. 200 East.
