Patsy Terrell. (Twitter)
Kansas state Rep. Patsy Terrell has died, according to CJOnline.
The death of Terrell shocked her colleagues. Few details were known as the news broke on June 7. The Kansas representative’s cause of death has not yet been released.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Terrell Was Found Dead in a Hotel Room
That detail came from House Majority Leader Don Hineman, according to CJOnline.
The newspaper reported that he told a group of Terrell’s colleagues that she had died in a hotel room. The news came as they “had assembled to prepare for upcoming budget debate,” the newspaper reported.
It was not yet clear why Terrell was staying in a hotel, although this post will be updated as more details are known. The hotel where Terrell was found deceased is in Topeka, Kansas.
Terrell was new to the statehouse; she started serving in the state Legislature just this year, according to KWCH.
2. Terrell Was a Democrat From Hutchinson
Patsy Terrell was a member of the Democratic Party who hailed from Hutchinson, Kansas.
3. Terrell’s Colleagues Expressed Shock & Condolences
Colleagues and constituents alike expressed shock and said the state is worse off without Terrell.
Kansas state Rep. Patsy Terrell (D-Hutchinson) was found dead in her Topeka hotel room tonight. #ksleg #condolences to the Terrell family.
— John Celock (@JohnCelock) June 8, 2017
4. Terrell Was Tweeting Just Hours Before Her Death
Patsy Terrell’s final tweet came on the morning of June 7. She wrote on Twitter:
You’re waking up in a Kansas where the Brownback experiment has ended. Good morning! #ksleg
— Patsy Terrell (@patsyterrell) June 7, 2017
She had expressed happiness at being a budget override vote.
In fact, she was a very prolific tweeter in her final hours, focusing on the people’s business.
“Sharing hugs with some of my colleagues on the floor. OVERRIDE. #ksleg,” she wrote in one recent tweet. “People can still change their votes, but the fact that the speaker voted in favor means that many will follow his lead. #ksleg,” she wrote in another.
She posted a photo of her voting button on social media as well.
5. Terrell’s Colleagues Held a Moment of Silence for Her
As news of Terrell’s sudden death spread, colleagues decided to do something to remember her. They held a moment of silence as the news was still fresh.
According to KWCH, “The GOP caucus held the moment of silence Wednesday night” on June 7.
Jessica McBride is a Heavy contributor. She was a crime, government, and breaking news reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and reporter for the Waukesha Freeman newspaper. Her award-winning work has appeared in numerous magazine, newspaper, and online publications. She has also appeared as a crime reporter on Investigation Discovery Channel, History Channel, and Oxygen Channel. She can be reached by email at jessica.mcbride@heavy.com.June 7, 2017 8:18 pm
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