Key West man found dead after writing "F**k Obama!" on the wall of his house

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Published time: November 14, 2012 20:49
Edited time: November 15, 2012 00:49

A Florida man who was upset about the presidential election results was found dead in his apartment after threatening to commit suicide if Barack Obama is reelected president.

Henry Hamilton, a 64-year-old tanning salon owner, allegedly told his partner before the election that “if Barack gets re-elected, I’m not going to be around”. On Nov. 8, two days after the election, the man was found dead next to two empty prescription bottles and his living will with the words, “Do not revive! F--- Obama!” written on it.

The empty prescription bottles were previously filled with Xanax and Seroquel, which treat anxiety and schizophrenia. An overdose of either of these medications can lead to coma and death.

Hamilton’s partner, Michael Cossey, told Key West police that his partner had been “very upset about the election results". Cossey told officer Anna Dykes that he had returned to the condo he shared with his partner after a late night of playing cards and fell asleep around 6 a.m. on the sofa. He woke up to the sound of a police officer knocking on the door.

A concerned friend of Hamilton's had previously called the police, asking that an officer check up on the man. Officer Pablo Rodriguez looked for Hamilton and found the deceased man in the bedroom.

Hamilton’s partner told police that last time they spoke was when they watched the election results on Nov. 6. Cossey also said Hamilton “has been very stressed about his business.” The Tropical Tan salon that the men shared had recently closed. It may have been hit by the 10 percent excise tax, enacted under Obama’s Affordable Care Act in 2010, the Raw Story suggests.

“Obviously people don’t really kill themselves over adverse political outcomes,” wrote Slate writer Matthew Yglesias. “But it should be said that owners of tanning salons have a uniquely legitimate beef with the Affordable Care Act.”

Police believe no foul play was involved and are therefore not searching for suspects. Although they have not yet determined the cause of death, the facts surrounding the case point to a suicide.

But Hamilton wasn’t the only American upset with the election results. In Arizona, a 28-year-old woman ran over her husband with an SUV when she found out Obama was reelected and her husband did not vote. The man was critically injured. Elsewhere, more than 700,000 people have signed a petition to secede from the United States Union and riots have spread through the University of Mississippi and Texas.