Florida GOP donor, DeSantis ally under 'active investigation' weeks before death, authorities say

Criminal investigation preceded suicide of high-powered GOP insider

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Politically well connected mega-donor and businessman Kent Stermon was under investigation by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office in the weeks before his suicide over allegations of sexual misconduct, according to multiple law enforcement sources. 

Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters issued a statement on Friday afternoon confirming the investigation, but did not say what the nature of the investigation was.

Stermon was the president of Total Military Management as well as a GOP kingmaker, seen as the conduit between Jacksonville politics and Tallahassee. He died by suicide, according to the Atlantic Beach Police Department. He was 50 years old. 

In his statement, Waters said, “Mr. Stermon was the subject of an active investigation by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, which began a few weeks prior to his death. This investigation remains ongoing at this time and will continue until its completion. As with all active investigations, there is limited information available to release at this time. However, as soon as this investigation has been completed, all applicable information will be available for release to the public.”