04-02-2011, 10:39 AM
(This post was last modified: 04-02-2011, 11:23 AM by Peter Lemkin.)
Son of Former Enron President Found Dead
February 3, 2011
by: Laurie Johnson
Authorities say John Taylor Skilling, the youngest son of former Enron
executive Jeff Skilling, was found dead in his apartment this week.
The 20-year-old, who went by the name J.T., was a student at Chapman
University in Orange, California.
He lived in an off-campus apartment in Santa Ana, where friends discovered
his body on Tuesday, February 1st.
The Orange County Coroner's Office says there was nothing in the apartment
to indicate foul play or any obvious reason for his death.
The cause of death is still under investigation and it could take four to
six weeks to get toxicology results.
His family has been notified.
Skilling grew up in Houston and was a 2009 graduate of Episcopal High
School.
His father, Jeff Skilling, is the former President of Enron and is currently
serving a 24 year sentence in federal prison after being convicted on
multiple counts of fraud , insider trading and conspiracy.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Taylor Skilling, 20, was found dead in his Santa Ana home around 10:30pm on Tuesday after his friends called police when he didn't show up for a planned dinner, police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.
Paramedics found bottles of prescription medication near the younger Skilling, who friends said had been distraught after breaking up with his girlfriend, according to Cpl. Bertagna.
Jeff Skilling's attorney, Daniel Petrocelli, said there was no indication of suicide and the death appeared to be an accidental overdose. A comedy movie was queued up on the young man's computer screen, Mr Petrocelli said.
The younger Skilling, who went by J.T., was a sophomore at nearby Chapman University and the youngest of Skilling's three children.
"He didn't have any major issues. He was just a healthy, young college kid and just a wonderful young man. This is very, very tragic," Mr Petrocelli said.
Related Articles
Failed Enron rescue threatens UK jobs 30 Nov 2001
A Chapman University spokeswoman did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
Jeff Skilling, 56, was the highest-ranking executive to be punished for Enron's downfall and is currently serving a 24-year sentence in a federal prison for fraud, insider trading, conspiracy and lying to auditors.
He is appealing his conviction, and Mr Petrocelli said he will seek a temporary release from prison to attend his son's funeral.
Company founder Kenneth Lay's similar convictions were vacated after he died of heart disease less than two months after trial.
Enron's 2001 collapse into bankruptcy, under the weight of years of illicit business deals and accounting tricks, put more than 5,000 people out of work, wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions and rendered worthless $60 billion in Enron stocks. Its aftershocks were felt across Houston and the energy industry.
February 3, 2011
by: Laurie Johnson
Authorities say John Taylor Skilling, the youngest son of former Enron
executive Jeff Skilling, was found dead in his apartment this week.
The 20-year-old, who went by the name J.T., was a student at Chapman
University in Orange, California.
He lived in an off-campus apartment in Santa Ana, where friends discovered
his body on Tuesday, February 1st.
The Orange County Coroner's Office says there was nothing in the apartment
to indicate foul play or any obvious reason for his death.
The cause of death is still under investigation and it could take four to
six weeks to get toxicology results.
His family has been notified.
Skilling grew up in Houston and was a 2009 graduate of Episcopal High
School.
His father, Jeff Skilling, is the former President of Enron and is currently
serving a 24 year sentence in federal prison after being convicted on
multiple counts of fraud , insider trading and conspiracy.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Taylor Skilling, 20, was found dead in his Santa Ana home around 10:30pm on Tuesday after his friends called police when he didn't show up for a planned dinner, police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.
Paramedics found bottles of prescription medication near the younger Skilling, who friends said had been distraught after breaking up with his girlfriend, according to Cpl. Bertagna.
Jeff Skilling's attorney, Daniel Petrocelli, said there was no indication of suicide and the death appeared to be an accidental overdose. A comedy movie was queued up on the young man's computer screen, Mr Petrocelli said.
The younger Skilling, who went by J.T., was a sophomore at nearby Chapman University and the youngest of Skilling's three children.
"He didn't have any major issues. He was just a healthy, young college kid and just a wonderful young man. This is very, very tragic," Mr Petrocelli said.
Related Articles
Failed Enron rescue threatens UK jobs 30 Nov 2001
A Chapman University spokeswoman did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
Jeff Skilling, 56, was the highest-ranking executive to be punished for Enron's downfall and is currently serving a 24-year sentence in a federal prison for fraud, insider trading, conspiracy and lying to auditors.
He is appealing his conviction, and Mr Petrocelli said he will seek a temporary release from prison to attend his son's funeral.
Company founder Kenneth Lay's similar convictions were vacated after he died of heart disease less than two months after trial.
Enron's 2001 collapse into bankruptcy, under the weight of years of illicit business deals and accounting tricks, put more than 5,000 people out of work, wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions and rendered worthless $60 billion in Enron stocks. Its aftershocks were felt across Houston and the energy industry.
"Let me issue and control a nation's money and I care not who writes the laws. - Mayer Rothschild
"Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience! People are obedient in the face of poverty, starvation, stupidity, war, and cruelty. Our problem is that grand thieves are running the country. That's our problem!" - Howard Zinn
"If there is no struggle there is no progress. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and never will" - Frederick Douglass
"Civil disobedience is not our problem. Our problem is civil obedience! People are obedient in the face of poverty, starvation, stupidity, war, and cruelty. Our problem is that grand thieves are running the country. That's our problem!" - Howard Zinn
"If there is no struggle there is no progress. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and never will" - Frederick Douglass