Ex-Fla tourism official wanted in theft found dead

Published May 04, 2012

Associated Press

DESTIN, Fla. – A Florida Panhandle county's former tourism director was
found dead of an apparent drug overdose Friday in Alabama, just days
after he was accused of stealing taxpayer money to buy a $710,000 yacht,
a sheriff said.

Mark Bellinger, 52, had gone missing Thursday and was found late Friday
morning in his car, said Okaloosa County Sheriff Larry Ashley. Bellinger
had been hired as tourism director in May 2010, just weeks after the BP
oil spill began in the Gulf of Mexico.

He acknowledged buying the yacht and resigned from the council Thursday.

Authorities said he left a suicide note at his Destin house; his wife
called the sheriff's office after she found it.

Before coming to Okaloosa County, Bellinger had worked in a similar
capacity in Palm Springs, Calif.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's office and a mortgage task force — which
includes investigators from the FBI — said Friday that they are looking
into whether Bellinger bought his home with money that BP gave the
tourism council following the spill.

The $747,000, four-bedroom, three-bathroom home was purchased last
August, according to property records. Ashley said state officials are
conducting an audit.

Okaloosa County leaders were unaware of the yacht's purchase until
recently, when the vessel's title paperwork was delivered in the mail.
Bellinger then acknowledged that he bought the yacht.

- - -

On 5/4/2012 4:06 PM, X ` Man wrote:
Ex-Fla tourism official wanted in theft found dead

Published May 04, 2012

Associated Press

DESTIN, Fla. – A Florida Panhandle county's former tourism director was
found dead of an apparent drug overdose Friday in Alabama, just days
after he was accused of stealing taxpayer money to buy a $710,000 yacht,
a sheriff said.

Mark Bellinger, 52, had gone missing Thursday and was found late Friday
morning in his car, said Okaloosa County Sheriff Larry Ashley. Bellinger
had been hired as tourism director in May 2010, just weeks after the BP
oil spill began in the Gulf of Mexico.

He acknowledged buying the yacht and resigned from the council Thursday.

Authorities said he left a suicide note at his Destin house; his wife
called the sheriff's office after she found it.

Before coming to Okaloosa County, Bellinger had worked in a similar
capacity in Palm Springs, Calif.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's office and a mortgage task force — which
includes investigators from the FBI — said Friday that they are looking
into whether Bellinger bought his home with money that BP gave the
tourism council following the spill.

The $747,000, four-bedroom, three-bathroom home was purchased last
August, according to property records. Ashley said state officials are
conducting an audit.

Okaloosa County leaders were unaware of the yacht's purchase until
recently, when the vessel's title paperwork was delivered in the mail.
Bellinger then acknowledged that he bought the yacht.

- - -

Follow the money till it disappears into a politician's pocket.

On May 4, 3:06*pm, X ` Man dump-on-conservati...@anywhere-you-
can.com wrote:
Ex-Fla tourism official wanted in theft found dead

Published May 04, 2012

Associated Press

DESTIN, Fla. – *A Florida Panhandle county's former tourism director was
found dead of an apparent drug overdose Friday in Alabama, just days
after he was accused of stealing taxpayer money to buy a $710,000 yacht,
a sheriff said.

Mark Bellinger, 52, had gone missing Thursday and was found late Friday
morning in his car, said Okaloosa County Sheriff Larry Ashley. Bellinger
had been hired as tourism director in May 2010, just weeks after the BP
oil spill began in the Gulf of Mexico.

He acknowledged buying the yacht and resigned from the council Thursday.

Authorities said he left a suicide note at his Destin house; his wife
called the sheriff's office after she found it.

Before coming to Okaloosa County, Bellinger had worked in a similar
capacity in Palm Springs, Calif.

The Okaloosa County Sheriff's office and a mortgage task force — which
includes investigators from the FBI — said Friday that they are looking
into whether Bellinger bought his home with money that BP gave the
tourism council following the spill.

The $747,000, four-bedroom, three-bathroom home was purchased last
August, according to property records. Ashley said state officials are
conducting an audit.

Okaloosa County leaders were unaware of the yacht's purchase until
recently, when the vessel's title paperwork was delivered in the mail.
Bellinger then acknowledged that he bought the yacht.

- - -

GOOD! Final justice has been served to him.

And this is over with for me. Back to boating posts!