Wise Co. man kills self here

A Wise County man who shot himself in Clarendon Sunday morning, December 5, may have planned his death for several weeks officials believe.

The body of 74-year-old Jackie Vaughn Rhodes was discovered on the ground at about 8 a.m. in the 200 block of West First Street, Donley County Sheriff Butch Blackburn said.

Rhodes had one gunshot wound to the left side of his chest, the sheriff said, and a .380 semi-automatic pistol was found at the scene.

An autopsy was performed Monday in Lubbock, and Blackburn said preliminary results showed the cause of death to be a self-inflicted gunshot.

The investigation revealed that Rhodes, who was a resident of the Greenwood community, had been in Clarendon on November 5 and made pre-paid funeral arrangements with Robertson Funeral Directors, the sheriff said. Rhodes then returned to Clarendon and stayed in the It’ll Do Motel Saturday night before going to the location on First Street in the early morning hours where he took his own life.

The investigation also revealed that Rhodes was facing criminal charges, Blackburn said.

Wise County Sheriff David Walker told the Enterprise that Rhodes was arrested on October 21 and charged with indecency with a child. He was out on $25,000 bond.

As to why Rhodes chose Clarendon as the place to end his life, Blackburn said the man’s father and son are buried in Citizens Cemetery, and the Enterprise has learned that Rhodes grew up in northern Donley County near Alanreed.