John Clifford Baxter (September 27, 1958 – January 25, 2002) was a former Enron Corporation executive who resigned in May 2001. He sold a large quantity of Enron stock during the months prior to Enron bankruptcy. Reportedly, Baxter clashed with CEO Jeffrey Skilling over questionable Enron business practices. Before his death, he had agreed to testify before Congress in the Enron case. Baxter was born in Amityville, New York, and graduated from New York University to join the military, where he became a U.S. Air Force captain from 1980 to 1985. After he left the military, he enrolled at Columbia University, where he received a MBA degree two years later. He had a wife, Carol, and two children, a son and a daughter.
Suicide
On January 25, 2002, Baxter was found dead in his black Mercedes-Benz in Sugar Land, Texas, with a gunshot wound through the right side of his head. The ammunition used was a "Glaser Safety Slug", which at the time was misreported as rat-shot.[1] A revolver was found in his car and a suicide note was found in his wife's car at their home. An autopsy was performed by the Harris County Medical Examiner's Office and the death was ruled a suicide.[1][2] His suicide note was hand printed, not written or signed, to his wife Carol:[3]
Carol, I am so sorry for this. I feel I just can't go on. I have always tried to do the right thing but where there was once great pride now it's gone. I love you and the children so much. I just can't be any good to you or myself. The pain is overwhelming. Please try to forgive me. Cliff
—J. Clifford Baxter
References
- ^ a b The Mysterious Death Of An Enron Exec. CBS News (2002-04-10).
- ^ Former Enron executive's death ruled a suicide, USA Today.
- ^ Suicide note. Retrieved on 2007-08-13.
