Mayes County Sheriff Calls 5th Death In 6 Weeks Probable Suicide

The Mayes County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death of a woman found near Spring Creek.

This is the fifth body found in the county in the past six weeks.

Sheriff Mike Reed said a fisherman spotted the body of a 56-year-old woman floating.

"We've seen nothing to make us believe it was anything but a self inflicted gun shot wound, and again there was a note to go along with that," Reed said.

A fisherman also found Roy Joice dead in the southern part of the county, back in June. Investigators say he committed suicide.

7/8/2013 Related Story: Mayes County Sheriff: 4th Death In 4 Weeks Not Connected To Others

A couple weeks later, another man was found on Big Cabin Creek. The Grand River Dam Authority is investigating that case and has not released the cause of death.

On July 1, Larry Wall was found near a Locust Grove dam. Sheriff Reed said Wall appeared to have also killed himself.

"You feel for the families. You feel for everybody. You hate to see anybody give up," Reed said.

According to a 2011 state health report, the suicide rate in Oklahoma was 30 percent higher than the national average.

The health department says mental illness, relationship problems and health issues can push people to suicide.

"It's sad. It's sad for the family. No body would wish that on anybody," Reed said.

Pamela Korbelik's body was found on the Fourth of July in Saline Creek, but the OSBI is investigating her death as a probable homicide.

Investigators say, although it appears the most recent death was a suicide, they still have to wait for the medical examiner to determine the official cause of death.