‘Apparent Suicide’ for Tom Sponseller

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — Columbia Police believe President of the South Carolina Hospitality Association, Tom Sponseller, committed suicide, ending a 10-day search for the man. Chief Randy Scott says Tom Sponseller was found dead in a lower level of a parking garage on Lady Street around 11:00 a.m. Tuesday. The garage is under the building where Sponseller served as President of the SC Hospitality Association. Investigators say Sponseller apparently shot himself in the head with a 9MM handgun that was found with the body. His body was discovered in a secluded utility closet that was locked behind two different doors, say police. After multiple searches by investigators, including assistance from cadaver dogs, it was Sponseller’s co-workers who discovered a suicide note in the executive’s office Tuesday morning. That led authorities back to the garage to look again. Tuesday’s discovery comes after more than week since Tom Sponseller disappeared. Community members and lawmakers alike were all asking for help in finding him and held moments of prayer and candlelight vigils in Columbia. Coroner Gary Watts is expected to conduct a full autopsy and reveal those findings later in the week.