Danforth assistant was on phone with auditor’s wife at time of his suicide

Senator John Danforth released a statement Thursday from his assistant, Martha Fitz, who was on the phone with the late Missouri Auditor Tom Schweich’s wife at the time of Schweich’s apparent suicide.

According to the statement, Fitz said she got a phone call from Schweich’s chief of staff, Trish Vincent, in the auditor at around 7:30 a.m. last Thursday, the day of Schweich’s death.

Vincent had just talked to Schweich at 7:20.

She said, “He was distraught, as he had been the last few days, regarding untruths about his religion. He also said he had not slept and had been physically ill most of the night. I tried to counsel him on how to handle the situation, but he dismissed my advice and the call ended shortly thereafter.”

Vincent asked Fitz to call Schweich’s wife, Kathy, because she was getting concerned about Schweich’s emotional state.”

Fitz left a message on Kathy’s phone, and Kathy called back at around 9:40 that morning.

Kathy said Schweich was up making phone calls. Schweich then picked up the phone and talked to Fitz for about three minutes.

Schweich talked about his outrage concerning the rumors that were being spread about his religion and how he should respond to them.

Fitz said she told him that he should let others stand up for him.

At that point, Schweich threatened to kill himself and handed the phone back to Kathy.

Seconds later, Fitz heard Kathy say Schweich shot himself.

Kathy called 911 on another line while Fitz stayed on the line until emergency responders arrived.