Tragedy struck Effingham County, Georgia, over the holiday season as a respected judge ended his life in a devastating turn of events.
Judge Stephen Yekel, 74, a state court judge for Effingham County, was found dead in a courtroom, having taken his own life just hours before his tenure on the bench was set to conclude.
The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the incident, stating that Judge Yekel was discovered by a deputy around 10 a.m. on Tuesday. Reports indicate that the judge likely died late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.
Judge Yekel had served the legal community for over four decades. Appointed to the bench in June 2022 by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, Yekel brought a wealth of experience to his role.
Before his judgeship, he worked as a special agent for Georgia’s Alcohol & Tobacco Tax Unit and as an investigator at the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office.
Despite his distinguished career, Yekel’s final days were clouded by personal and professional challenges. Having lost his bid for re-election earlier in the year, Tuesday was to be his last day presiding in court.
According to reports, Yekel had previously attempted to resign from his