Sandefur

CAIRO — The death of former Cairo police chief Keith Sandefur has officially been ruled a suicide, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

A GBI spokesperson said Wednesday that autopsy results returned earlier this week indicate that the cause and manner of Sandefur’s death was a suicide by a single gunshot. The investigation remains open. No additional details of Sandefur’s death were released Wednesday.

Sandefur died Dec. 19 at the city firing range on Wight Road. The Cairo Police Department requested that the GBI conduct an investigation into the incident.

The longtime police chief’s death came just weeks after he was charged with two counts of felony theft by conversion and resigned his position. His retirement had been set to go into effect Dec. 31.

Investigators with the GBI say Sandefur had purchased property and charged the expenses to the City of Cairo. GBI said the property, which has since been recovered, was then given to Sandefur’s civilian associates.

Prior to his resignation, Sandefur had been employed with the city police department since 1980. He had served as police chief since 1995.