GBI: Spalding County judge’s death a suicide

An autopsy determined a Spalding County judge killed himself the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Thursday.

William Johnston, 53, was found dead in his car Tuesday afternoon. He was the Griffin Municipal Court Judge and a partner in his law firm.

Johnston left his home Monday night and told his family he was meeting a client in Lamar County. When he didn’t return, his family called police. Two EMC workers found Johnston in his car in Spalding.