Crime & Safety

Death of Orioles Pitcher Officially Ruled a Suicide

Officials said Mike Flanagan last spoke to his wife at 1 a.m. on Aug. 24 and was found dead near his Sparks home later that day.

Former Orioles pitcher and executive  has officially been ruled a suicide, according to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner.

Baltimore County police spokeswoman Elise Armacost said Thursday during a news conference that Flanagan died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Flanagan was 59.

Armacost said police discovered Flanagan’s body after responding to his home, located in the 15000 block of York Road near Sparks, at 4:26 p.m. Wednesday. But investigators could not positively identify him due to the extent of his injuries.

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Police responded to the home after a neighbor called 911 when she could not locate Flanagan.

The neighbor went to check on Flanagan after his wife, Alex, called her with concerns. Mrs. Flanagan was out of town and last spoke with her husband at 1 a.m. Wednesday. Police discovered Flanagan’s body about 250 feet behind his home, Armacost said.

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Armacost said the investigation showed that Mike Flanagan was upset about financial issues and left no suicide note. In addition, Armacost said she could not confirm whether he was on an antidepressant medication or whether he was despondent over his inability to help turn the Orioles into a winning team, as WBAL-TV first reported.

Flanagan served as an executive with the Orioles from 2002 to 2008.

Armacost added that police responded to the Flanagan home on June 30 after Mrs. Flanagan—who was out of town at the time—called 911 concerned that she could not contact her husband by phone. Mike Flanagan answered the door when police responded to his home and said he was having trouble with his phone service.

The Flanagan family also released a statement to the public.

“We thank you for your support and kind words at this difficult time,” the statement said. "Thank you for respecting our privacy as we grieve."

A private memorial will be held at a later date.


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