Frederick W. Hutchins Jr.

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A month of questions and speculation about whether an aide to a U.S. senator was murdered or killed himself ended Tuesday when authorities confirmed that Fred Hutchins' death was a suicide.

But questions about how authorities made the determination still linger because Botetourt County Sheriff Ronnie Sprinkle would not provide details about the investigation, saying he wanted to respect Hutchins' family.

Hutchins, a 26-year-old aide to U.S. Sen. Jim Webb, was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head July 29 outside a vehicle parked on the side of U.S. 220 in Botetourt County. Maj. Delbert Dudding with the sheriff's office confirmed for the first time Tuesday that the handgun found under Hutchins' body was his own.

For the past month, authorities have said little about Hutchins' death while they investigated whether it was a suicide or a homicide.

The ruling has brought some closure to family and friends but hasn't answered for them why Hutchins ended his life.

"As a friend, I can't figure it out because I never saw any real signs of depression. I just accept that Fred chose to take his life," said Del. Onzlee Ware, D-Roanoke.

Ware worked with Hutchins when he served as Ware's campaign manager and legislative aide. Hutchins' family has asked him to speak on their behalf.

Ware and others have said that Hutchins complained of terrible migraines, but they stopped short of speculating on what, if anything, that had to do with his death.

The sheriff's office on Friday told Hutchins' family of the ruling. Ware visited with them last weekend and said they are grateful to have answers.

"I think I saw some signs of relief," he said.

Sprinkle declined to say what led investigators, including the medical examiner's office, to conclude that Hutchins' death was a suicide.

"I just want to have respect for the family at this point," he said.

Joel Branscom, the county's commonwealth's attorney, said it would be hard to make those details known without revealing too much personal information.

"So much of it is so private, that it'd be hard to lay it out," he said.

Branscom is not looking into the case because there are no court proceedings, but he said he has looked at the findings and feels confident in the investigation.

"Anyone who looked at this would have a hard time thinking it wasn't a suicide," he said.

Investigators searched Hutchins' downtown Roanoke condominium and did not find a suicide note, Dudding said.

They did take about 10 firearms and a variety of ammunition, according to a search warrant return filed in Roanoke Circuit Court.

Hutchins' friends have said he was an avid gun collector and hunter.

Investigators also collected his computer, BlackBerry, a letter to his certified public accountant and a baggie of marijuana.

They also obtained more than a year's worth of bank statements from Hutchins' account.

Dudding would not say if investigators were looking for anything specific in their searches.

"You look for everything and make sure there is nothing," he said.

The gun and an empty cartridge found at the scene were sent to a state forensic lab for testing, Dudding said. The lab also tested for gunshot residue.

Sprinkle declined to say if a bullet was recovered because he said it doesn't have much significance to the case now.

"I'm just not getting into it," he said.

Sprinkle said he did not know what other tests were performed on the gun and cartridge.

Tom Gasparoli, a spokesman for the Virginia Department of Forensic Science, said labs do not release information about cases except to investigating authorities.

The sheriff's office asked the state lab to prioritize the case, but it still took weeks to get results. Some tests have a turnaround time of several weeks, and the four labs, which handle every criminal case in the state, have been battling a backlog for years.

Gunshot residue tests, for example, have a two- to four-month turnaround time and are only done at the central lab in Richmond.

The backlog has also delayed a ruling in the death of Kent Agnew, owner of Agnew Seed Store in downtown Roanoke, who was found dead in the store July 20.

The medical examiner's office is waiting on results from toxicology tests before it rules on Agnew's manner and cause of death.

The wait for answers has been frustrating for both families, especially Hutchins'.

"They are just glad that they at least have some closure," Ware said. "They just want to let it go and let Fred rest in peace."