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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowProminent Indianapolis blogger Gary Welsh has died, according to Indianapolis police, who say they are investigating the death as a "tragic suicide."
Welsh, 53, wrote the widely followed conservative blog Advance Indiana, which he launched more than a decade ago. He also was a practicing attorney.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department's incident report says officers were dispatched to the Lockerbie Glove Factory Lofts, 430 N. Park Ave., before 8 a.m. Sunday after receiving a report of a person found shot in the stairwell of the building. The witnesses who called 911 reported that a gun was next to the body.
IMPD Capt. Richard Riddle said he expects an autopsy will be conducted Monday. He said the Marion County Coroner's Office will determine the official cause of death.
Welsh was known for hard-hitting blog posts that took swipes at both Democrats and Republicans.
His final post, published Friday, summarized the latest poll results in the GOP presidential primary battle between Donald Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich.
His post included this disconcerting line: "If I'm not around to see the vote results, my prediction is that Trump wins Indiana with just shy of 50% of the vote, but he will carry every single congressional district and sweep the delegates—assuming the party-chosen delegates honor their rules-bound commitment to support the winner on the first ballot."
Jim Klimek, an attorney and friend who worked across the hall from Welsh in the Chamber of Commerce Building on Meridian Street, said that Welsh had been depressed lately, in part because the blog was extremely time consuming but generated little revenue.
Devastated by this. God knows Gary and I had our profound disagreements, but I always considered him a friend. https://t.co/g7pEeVo5cz
— Michael Huber (@michael_j_huber) May 1, 2016
Very sad news. A tireless, fearless blogger and a cantankerous force in #Indy media silenced. RIP Gary https://t.co/wuMv9h3SEd
— Cory Schouten (@CorySchouten) May 1, 2016
Very sad at the passing of Gary Welsh of Advance Indiana. A great guy. His work will be missed.
— Rob Kendall (@RobMKendall) May 1, 2016
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