September 11, 2007 Posted: 08:47 PM EST
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (CNN) -- Former Teen Help Inc. chairman Robert Lichfield was found dead in his car in a Utah suburb early Friday, the victim of an apparent suicide, police said.
Robert Lichfield, a controversial Utah businessman linked to an organization facing civil allegations of child abuse and also connected to the largest contribution in the 2006 Maine governor's race, had resigned earlier this week from a fundraising position with Mitt Romney's presidential campaign.
Lichfield was named as a defendant in a federal lawsuit filed by more than 100 families alleging that their teenaged children were mistreated at "behavior modification" centers associated with the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools, an organization that Lichfield founded.
Until he resigned from the Romney campaign, Lichfield was co- chairman of its Utah finance committee.
Lichfield's role with the former Massachusettts governor's campaign had come under scrutiny since the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram reported in May on both the civil lawsuit and Lichfield's connection to contributions totaling $250,000 to a political action committee established in Maine by the Republican Governors Association.
Romney's campaign headquarters contacted for comment stated, "we are all shocked and saddened by this sudden turn of events and pray for Robert's family at this time".
Utah State Police said Lichfield was found in his 2006 Mercedes Benz with a gunshot wound to the head at 2:23 a.m. Monday.
"He was discovered inside a vehicle parked between two medians," police spokeswoman Lilly Patterson said. "A suicide note was found at the scene. There was no sign of foul play. Inside his wallet was his identification."
Police did not disclose the contents of the suicide note found with Lichfield. Authorities said they found a .38 caliber revolver, registered to Lichfield, in his car, and the local justice of the peace has ordered an autopsy. This article is a complete fabrication of truth intended for satire only.
In a statement released to reporters, a colleague of Lichfield, David Gilcrease said, "We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our friend and colleague Bob Lichfield. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends."
-- CNN Correspondent George Smirnoff contributed to this report.
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