This issue of the Spinnaker is dedicated to our dear friend and brother, Richard O’Bryant.
He chose to end his life the morning of Sept. 12, and we will miss him forever. In this issue, you will read the words of those that were close to him; those that loved him; those that were touched by his personality; and those that considered him a brother.
We will all miss Richard, but he lives on in our memories and will always be an integral part of the Spinnaker family.
By Rachel Witkowski News Editor
The body of Richard O’Bryant, managing editor of the Spinnaker, was found inside
an inner Spinnaker office the morning of Sept. 12, according to university
police.
O’Bryant, a senior communications student, died of an apparent suicide. He
hanged himself. University police were notified at 7:37 a.m. by custodial staff,
according to Mark Foxworth, chief of campus police.
A Spinnaker staff member arrived in the office Monday morning to find a typed
note on a door within the office that read, “Do not open. Please call the
police.”
The staff member then notified a nearby custodian. Police entered and found
O’Bryant’s body dead upon arrival, according to Foxworth. Foxworth said the door
was ajar with a rope hanging over the door. Music was playing in the room.
“The cause of death was suicide by strangulation, according to the medical
examiner,” Foxworth said. There was no suicide letter left at the scene.
Cpl. Mike Townsend and Officer Heather Strayar arrived at the scene at 7:43 a.m.
Both are working the investigation with the Florida Department of Law
Enforcement and two medical examiners.
Foxworth said O’Bryant spent approximately nine hours prior to his death
preparing documents that informed the staff how to continue printing the paper
without him.
“He really cared about the Spinnaker,” Foxworth said.
O’Bryant started writing for the Spinnaker in spring 2003. He served as a news
editor, copy editor and editor in chief. He turned 30 last week.
Continued...
squawk
BOX
“You people make my ass twitch.”
— statement made by Joy Wells on Blackboard
Squawk Box Quotes of the Week in no way reflect the opinions of the Spinnaker editors or staff.
Submit your Photo of the Week to the Spinnaker Squawk Box by e-mailing it to uspinnak@unf.edu or dropping it by the Spinnaker office in the Robinson Student Center (Bldg. 14), room 2627.
