Effingham County Judge Stephen
Yekel tragically died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound on Tuesday, December 31, inside the Effingham County Courthouse. According to Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie, the incident occurred on what was Yekel’s last day in office.
The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the death in a statement, describing the event as a devastating loss for the community. Authorities have not released additional details surrounding the circumstances.