Missing doctor Jeffrey Whiteside, found dead in a wooded area of Liberty Grove Wisconsin after a three week search, may have died from a gunshot wound.
The pulmonary specialist was last seen arguing with his wife Kathi Whiteside on the morning of June 29th, who has since hired a lawyer and blocked a search of the couple’s Ephraim residence in Door County.
The two allegedly separated after their heated quarrel and she returned alone to their Grand Chute home some 100 miles away -- reporting her husband missing several days after he disappeared near Ephraim’s yacht club.
The nature of that dispute hasn’t been disclosed, but Dr. Whiteside was eventually found dead this Wednesday not far from the marina, with a .22 caliber firearm by his side.
“We believe the body had been there for some time,” said a spokesman for the local sheriff’s office, who also indicated that the actual owner of the gun discovered with the deceased man hasn’t been determined yet.
An autopsy was performed on the 63-year-old physician, however the cause of his death has not been formally announced pending the results of additional tests, according to the county coroner.
"We don't have complete results yet. We are waiting for toxicology," the Door County Medical Examiner informed reporters. "We did do dental identification and we have positively identified [the corpse] as Dr. Whiteside."
The family of Jeffrey Whiteside released a statement later in the week thanking search- and-rescue personnel and members of the public for their “tireless efforts” in trying to find the missing doctor.
