Death of doctor who was missing over 3 weeks ruled suicide

STURGEON BAY — The death of a Fox Valley doctor who was missing for over three weeks has been ruled a suicide.

The Brown County Medical Examiner's Office said Tuesday it estimates Dr. Jeffrey Whiteside died June 29. That was the last day he was seen alive at his family's boat slip in Ephraim. He walked away after a disagreement with his wife. His body was found July 22 in a wooded area in Door County.

Investigators say a .22-caliber revolver found near Whiteside's body apparently belonged to him. The gun had been fired once.

Whiteside was a physician at Fox Valley Pulmonary Medicine in Appleton and served on the ThedaCare health system's board of trustees.

ThedaCare says it hopes his death will highlight the importance of suicide prevention.