On Monday night, a St. Louis TV station was planning to air a “5 On Your Side” investigation into a local contractor. Instead, they announced on the air that the subject of their investigation had been found dead in his home just a few hours before the scheduled broadcast.

This particular contractor did not have a friendly relationship with the consumer protection industry. He took the unusual step of suing the Better Business Bureau for “libel/slander and tortious interference with business expectancy” for giving his firm only a C rating based on consumer complaints.

During the evening news, an anchor read the following statement:

The man who was the subject of a “Five On Your Side investigation” scheduled to air tonight has been found dead in his Town and Country home. Police say Jamie Hart, owner of Castle Rock Remodeling was found this morning. Out of respect for his family and colleagues, details of our story will air at a later time.

We can’t tell you what the investigation was about, since the station wouldn’t discuss that with other media outlets.

Authorities do not suspect foul play, and say that the business owner did not have a heart attack. They await results of toxicology tests.

Business owner found dead morning before KSDK investigative story was to air [St. Louis Post-Dispatch]

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