Indicted former DOH supervisor takes own life

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. — The former state Division of Highways equipment division director took his own life Tuesday night, hours after he was named in a federal corruption indictment.

Family members found the body of Bob Andrew, 77, of Bridgeport, in his vehicle at about 10:30 p.m. at Burnside Car Wash just outside Bridgeport city limits.

MORE: Read 43-page Andrew indictment

Andrew died of a single gunshot wound to the head, sources said, and a note was found at the scene.

Federal prosecutors released information about a multi-count federal indictment late Tuesday afternoon alleging Andrew created a “culture of corruption” at the DOH’s equipment division in Buckhannon, where Andrew served as director for 16 years.

Andrew allegedly ordered state workers to conduct political work on state time, rigged bids, and ordered the illegal sell of surplus vehicles and equipment. The indictment alleges some of that political work took place on state time for the 2011 gubernatorial campaign of Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin.

The Tomblin campaign released a statement Tuesday:

“The Tomblin campaign paid Bob Andrew for specific services, including signage. It was our understanding he conducted that business on his own time with his own resources, and he was compensated separately from his state salary.”

Andrew also worked on the campaigns of U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, though Manchin told MetroNews “Talkline” he never knew of any work taking place on state time.

“He never asked for anything that I can recall whatsoever, or that we ever had any conversations about his job or about any other activities along job-related instances whatsoever,” Manchin said.

State Transportation Secretary Paul Mattox released a statement Wednesday:

I was saddened to hear of the passing of our former Equipment Division Director, Bob Andrew.  I know I speak for the entire Division of Highways staff when I say our hearts and prayers go out to the entire Andrew family.”

U.S. Attorney Bill Ihlenfeld has been investigating the DOH’s equipment division for more than two years. Two former workers, Edward Tuttle and Barry Thompson, have pleaded guilty to a number of federal charges in connection with the probe.





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