An autopsy Tuesday will tell investigators the cause of Judge James Heath's death.
Hamilton Township Detectives won't go into specifics of their investigation but they say evidence found with the judge in the bedroom of his Maineville home indicates it was suicide.
Heath was found dead by his wife around 2 p.m. Sunday, about 17 hours after Heath's second drunk driving arrest.
Heath was pulled over in October for drunk driving in Wilmington. He was arrested after failing his field sobriety test and refusing to take a breathalyzer test.
In December Heath pled guilty to the reduced charge of reckless driving.
Around 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Heath was pulled over on State Route 48 in Lebanon. Police charged him with drunk driving after he again refused a breathalyzer test.
Friends say Heath has had other struggles in his life including a bout with stomach cancer. He was also separated from his wife.
"He was a quality man. He was a good Judge, he was a good family man. He was a great father and you know he's had a really good life," said Warren County Commissioner Dave Young.
"Things started not going his way and I think he did some things that were a little bit out of character for him that were well publicized you know a few months ago and then last night," Young explained.
Warren County Commissioner Mike Kilburn stands by his criticism of Heath's decisions in recent months but says his death is a tragedy.
"Jim Heath was a reputable judge I think. I think he's made good decisions that I know of," Kilburn said.
"No one has ever said a bad word about Jim Heath being nothing but a quality judge. He has served the people of Warren County with distinction for a very very long period of time," Young said.
Lt. Jeff Braley from the Hamilton Township Police Department says, "Warren County has lost a very good man and I know I have lost a very good friend. He was a great judge and will be so missed by everyone that was involved with him."
"No matter how bleak or how bad you think things are, there is another day tomorrow and I just wish that Jim Heath would be here to see tomorrow," Young said.
Judge Heath first took the bench in 1994.
The Court Administrator, Scott McVey says, "It's going to be a difficult loss." McVey says Heath treated his staff like family. He touched every department in the courthouse says McVey.
McVey says the other judges will take over Heath's cases until they can appoint a visiting judge. Governor Ted Strickland will then appoint someone to take the job for the rest of Heath's term which ends at the end of 2010.
Heath is survived by three children.
