Theft suspect found dead, believed by self-inflicted gunshot
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[An investigation into a tip regarding recent burglaries in the county ended with a Harrisburg man taking his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound Wednesday afternoon.
Three Saline County Sheriff's Deputies received a tip of possible stolen property at 1106 S. Main St., the home of Joshua E. Diefenbach, 34, Saline County Chief Deputy Ken Clore said.
"They observed trailers we believe to be stolen from Southeastern Illinois College on the property," Clore said.
At about 12:30 p.m. deputies spoke to Diefenbach, who consented in their search of his property, Clore said. Deputies searched a garage and adjoining outbuilding.
"When the doors opened they observed property they believed was stolen from Southeastern Illinois College and Ten Oaks Stables," Clore said.
Clore said during the investigation Diefenbach never was in custody and was cooperative with the deputies, with the exception of providing some deceptive responses to questions, Clore said.
"He was not in custody at the time. He was moving his vehicles out of the way so the trailers could be removed. The deputies were talking to other residents in the area," Clore said.
Diefenbach moved the vehicles and went back inside the residence.
Deputies returned to the house to speak to Diefenbach as part of a preliminary investigation. There had been no indication of firearms in the house and Diefenbach did not appear to be upset when Jones had spoken to him earlier, but Diefenbach killed himself when he went back in the house, Clore said.
Deputies did not hear a gunshot.
"The deputy stepped into the residence and smelled fresh gunpowder," Clore said.
Deputies found Diefenbach in the bedroom across the bed with a self-inflicted gunshot, obviously deceased, with a 9 mm pistol near his body, Clore said.
Deputies notified the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Unit and the Saline County Coroner. The Illinois State Police Agent Bryan Harms is handling the investigation of Diefenbach's death.
During the investigation the deputies also found boxes of items marked as property of Auto Trim in Harrisburg, leading Harrisburg Police to become involved in the investigation. Auto Trim workers discovered the items stolen Saturday morning and had not yet reported the theft to police.
Harrisburg police are also handling the report of a theft of license plates from Diefenbach's neighbor which were also among items on Diefenbach's property, Clore said.
Today deputies are continuing the investigation inventorying items from the Diefenbach property and following leads on possible locations of more stolen items. Clore said there is evidence to place Diefenbach at the scene of Ten Oaks Stables during the night of the burglary there and said he had been at the stable during the past eight months. Clore said the department also had reason to believe he had been at SIC recently, possibly as a student. Diefenbach was an experienced welder, Clore said.
Deputies do not believe Diefenbach came to possess the stolen property by himself.
"We are still investigating, trying to find other people of interest," Clore said.
Diefenbach had previously worked for the Saline County Sheriff's Office as a telecommunicator and a correctional officer as recently as 2008. Neither Clore nor Sheriff Keith Brown was sure as to why he left employment there.
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DeNeal received e-mail at mailto:bdeneal@yourclearwave.com.</li>
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