A former Idaho lawmaker who recently stepped down in the midst of a sexual abuse investigation committed suicide on Tuesday.
Brandon Hixon was found dead by a relative at his home in Caldwell around 7am.
The Canyon County Coroner says the 36-year-old died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
House Speaker Scott Bedke announced Hixon’s death around 11am.
‘Former Rep. Brandon Hixon has tragically taken his own life. Our thoughts go first to family and friends who are suffering from this loss,’ Bedke said.
Brandon Dixon (pictured in 2013) was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head by a family member at his home in Caldwell, Idaho Tuesday morning
He added: ‘We should… support those who are close to us when they are struggling. Please remember Brandon’s family in your prayers.’
The 36-year-old stepped down from his position in the Idaho House in October when he came under investigation for sexual abuse. No charges had been filed yet. He was arrested twice in December for DUI (pictured in a mugshot from one of his December arrests)
Hixon was first elected into the Idaho House in 2012, as a Republican representative for Caldwell.
He was re-elected to his seat in 2014, with 58.9 per cent of the vote.
But he stepped down suddenly in October, when it was revealed that he was under investigation by Caldwell Police for sexual abuse.
‘I hope that my efforts have helped improve the lives of my constituents in District 10, as well as all Idahoans. I will never forget all of my colleagues that I very much enjoyed working side-by-side with to make Idaho a better place for all,’ Hixon said in his resignation letter.
Local police have since turned their investigation over to the Attorney General’s Office, which have declined to comment on the content of the case.
The father-of-four was previously investigated for inappropriately touching someone – possibly a child – in December 2014. But he was never charged since the alleged victim couldn’t provide enough details to cops.
Since resigning, Hixon’s life seems to have gone down hill. He was arrested twice in December for DUI – the second time for having a depressive drug in his system.
During the first incident, he was also charged with resisting arrest when he refused to get out of his car. Cops later found he had nearly twice the legal limit of alcohol in his system.
He was due in court next week for a hearing involving his second arrest.
When he first ran for office, and during his re-election, Hixon’s criminal history was brought up. He brushed the convictions off as ‘youthful indiscretions’.
Before the age of 21, he already had five convictions including two for alcohol possession, urinating in public, having an invalid driver’s license and a curfew violation.
Last year, Hixon and his wife Danielle divorced. He is survived by four children, ages six to 17.
Hixon was in his third term when he resigned. His position was up for a vote again this year.
The fourth-generation Idahoan attended Idaho State University where he got a degree in construction management.