Sonoma Sheriff Says Attorney Left Suicide Note

SONOMA COUNTY - The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crimes Investigation unit released information Friday suggesting missing civil attorney Steven Mitchell may have committed suicide.

Authorities say during the course of the investigation into Mitchell’s disappearance a note was discovered. The note was authored by Mitchell and made clear his intention to end his life.

This information, coupled with all the other factors, led detectives to believe that Mitchell was not a victim of foul play, and led to the suspension of the formal search.

Mitchell, 56, of Santa Rosa, was a member of the law firm Geary, Shea, O’Donnell, Grattan & Mitchell of Santa Rosa. He was reported missing by his wife around 8 p.m. Saturday, February 13, and was last seen around 9 a.m. Saturday in Santa Rosa, sheriff’s officials said.

His car was found Sunday night parked in Bodega Bay, unoccupied.

Also on Patch:

• Sonoma Coast Search Halted For Missing Attorney
• Santa Rosa Attorney Disappears, Car Found

Mitchell represented Sonoma County in the civil rights violation lawsuit filed by the parents of Andy Lopez who was fatally shot by sheriff’s Deputy Erick Gelhaus on Oct. 22, 2013.

-Bay City News Service, generic image of Bodega Bay byWikiwatcher1, and licensed under the Creative CommonsAttribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.