GLYNN COUNTY, Ga. -- With a heavy heart, and the shock of it all still stinging, Henry Bishop rang the bell.
"It's incredible. I couldn't believe it," he said.
Here in this typically quiet coastal community, Bishop learned one of his successors as chairman of the Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce, and more importantly one of his friends, was dead.
Glynn County Commissioner Tom Sublett, a father of four and a grandfather of two, was only 52 years old.
"He was just a great, wonderful person. He was somebody that you wouldn't think had any enemies in the world," Bishop said.
In a news conference on Tuesday, Glynn County Police Chief Matt Doering said Sublett's death was being investigated as a homicide.
Sublett's body was found early Tuesday morning floating in the water between a boat and a dock at the St. Simons Island Boating & Fishing Club. His car was found just yards away in the county park, Gascoigne Bluff.
This after, what friends and police describe as, a seemingly ordinary night of playing poker with friends at Bill Parker's house in Sterling.
"He was his regular self, full of life, cutting up, telling jokes," Parker recalls.
It was a fun night that was supposed to end at home after Sublett dropped off his friend at his car. But Sublett never made it.
Police say his wife reported him missing at 2:30 a.m.
Now hours later, flags fly at half-staff as a community mourns a man that symbolized not only local leadership, but friendship.
"It's just such a sad, sad day for our community," said Glynn County Commission Chairman Richard Strickland.
"Just pray that nothing like that happens again," said Bishop.
An autopsy is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday in Savannah, Ga.
At this time, no suspect information has been released.
Police are urging anyone with information in this case to call either their special tip line at 912-554-7847 or their silent witness line at 912-264-1333. You can remain anonymous.
