Bingo Defendant Found Dead, Trial Delayed

A federal judge has temporarily suspended jury selection in Alabama's gambling corruption trial after one of the seven defendants, former legislative employee Ray Crosby, was found dead in his home on Sunday.

Former State Senator Danny Corbett, a close friend of Crosby, discovered his body around 4:30 Sunday afternoon.   Crosby was lying in his bed with a book, according to Corbett.

"I found nothing out of order at all in the house," said Corbett.  “His cell phone was plugged up to the charger. His watch was laying on the chest of drawers with his wallet and check book."

The timing of Crosby’s death, one day before his corruption re-trial was scheduled to begin, has raised speculation about how he died.  

A former employee of the state’s Senate Democratic Caucus sent an email to democratic lawmakers on Sunday that said “I just learned that Ray Crosby committed suicide.  I wanted to make sure everyone knew about this tragedy.”   

The email was quickly retracted.

Corbett, who tells News Five that Crosby suffered from high blood pressure and a heart condition, believes his friend died in his sleep.   A handful of pills, which Corbett believes were for his heart condition, were sitting on a nearby dresser with a glass of water.

Montgomery County Coroner David Thrasher confirmed Crosby's death, but would not release additional information and said only that the investigation is continuing.

In addition to Crosby, six other defendants were scheduled to stand trial on Monday including Milton McGregor, state Sen. Harri Anne Smith, former Sens. Larry Means and Jim Preuitt, and two others. All were facing bribery charges and six of the seven faced conspiracy charges.