PORTLAND, Maine – A former Jacksonville meteorologist who had been working for a Portland, Maine, television station has been found dead.
According to the Auburn, Maine, Police Department, the body of Tom Johnston was found on Old Orchard Beach Thursday.
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"Any suspicion of foul play has been ruled out and the investigation is focused on an apparent suicide," the police department said in a Facebook post Thursday night.
Johnston worked with I-TEAM investigator Lynnsey Gardner at another local television station, and the two are friends.
Johnston was last seen Saturday evening. He was emceeing an event at the Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine, Saturday night and called his family when it was over to say he was headed home. It appears he never made it.
When he didn't come to work on Monday at WCSH, a missing persons report was filed.
“Let me say, Tom is one of the most genuine people I've ever met,” Gardner said. “He was like a big brother to me and looked out for me as I'd just moved to Jacksonville from a smaller town and market.”
Gardner said Johnston is a father to two young children, including a son in Northeast Florida.
Investigators said an autopsy of Johnston's body will be completed Friday.