WFLA's John Winter Found Dead

[madfloridian]

Source: TBO WFLA Tampa Tribune

TAMPA - "News Channel 8 evening anchors Stacie Schaible and Bob Hite shared the sad news about meteorologist John Winter's apparent suicide with viewers at the top of their broadcast.

At 3:30 p.m., an anonymous caller contacted the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office to ask that a deputy go by Winter's home in Lithia to check on his well being, sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Carter said. The caller's phone number came up as "restricted" and investigators do not know the person's name.

When deputies arrived, Winter's vehicle was parked in the driveway, Carter said. Deputies knocked on the home's doors, but he did not answer.

As deputies forced their way through the front door, they heard a single gunshot."



Read more: http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBT6HHS50F.html

---

He was one of our favorite weathermen. He seemed like a genuinely nice guy. The news anchors were choking back the tears tonight announcing it. A shock.

[mzmolly]

1. So sad.

:(

[ikojo]

2. Many in the community will be impacted by

this. I recall that in 1994 the weatherman on KSDK Channel 5 in St Louis, Bob Richards, committed suicide using his airplane. News of an affair and a restraining order had come out and he couldn't handle the negative publicity. He was a VERY popular weatherman who also co-hosted the annual Muscular Dystrophy telethon.

[The Doctor.]

3. So did the gunshot have anything to do with their forcing their way in?

Sounds kind of questionable.

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. He may have called them in himself.

Maybe just wanted to make sure someone was there to take care of the remains.

That would be in line with someone who has thought about this for a while.

[shrike]

7. Somebody did this locally

He called the police, waited for them to come and when they were trying to get in the door he shot himself. You're right, it obviously shows planning.

[Sancho]

4. Unbelievable...

we'll miss him...

:cry:

[kstewart33]

5. Madfloridian, can you post an update?

I'm wondering what's behind his suicide.

[madfloridian]

11. A little update

I guess we never will know. I hope they don't make the note public. Gayle Guyardo's comments are very moving.

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070406/NEWS/704060360/1134

"Recently, Winter had temporarily left the morning show to fill in for a co-worker on the evening broadcast.

Winter's colleague, Gayle Guyardo, said she had been counting down the days until he returned to the morning shift. The two of them had worked together for 14 years, and were as close as family, she said.

"He walks in (to the station) and brings such a light to the rest of us," she said Thursday night. "And then he dies with all this darkness surrounding him."

She had known that something was troubling Winter, she said. His beloved dog, Davis, died recently, and it struck him hard.

Like everyone, she said, he had "highs and lows." And like everyone in the news business, he had to put his troubles aside when it was time to go on the air."

[SemperEadem]

8. weathermen and suicide

Bob Richards of KSDK in St. Louis did killed himself, too. Took his private plane up and crashed it into the ground. So sad.

[ElizabethDC]

9. Very sad

I've watched John for years - he was my favorite weatherman. I'm so shocked.

[chieftain]

10. That is truly sad news. I liked him and he seemed to be a

pleasant, personable man.

[madfloridian]

12. The comments in this article by Gayle Guyardo just made me cry.

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070406/NEWS/704060360/1134

"For years, she said, crew members would pick five random words out of a dictionary and tape them to the studio floor. Winter would have to find a way to work all five words into his broadcast.

"I literally would leave work and come home and sit at the dinner table and giggle myself silly with my family about what we were able to slip on the air," she said. But Guyardo said she won't be going in to work today.

"I can't go in," she said. "I can't sit across from that chair. "I can't look at that studio."

She only hopes her friend is at peace.

"He decided to push 'rewind' and 'play' on life," she said. "He gave up on this one."

[lpbk2713]

13. Public memorial service will be 4pm tomorrow (04/10)

At Hyde Park United Methodist Church.


Link: http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGB8Y5DX80F.html?imw=Y

[superconnected]

14. Maybe he knew something we don't...

About weather trends.

JK.

RIP Mr. Winters.

I rarely watched tv so I never saw ya, but you were obviously well liked.