Real estate investor found dead in suspected suicide outside sheriff's office
A Martinsville businessman and real estate investor is dead after police say they believe a man killed himself in the Henry County Sheriff's Office parking lot Tuesday morning.
Hairston Funeral Home announced later Tuesday that it would be providing the services for Frederick "Fred" Wooden, 39, of Hunt Woods Drive in Martinsville, who died earlier in the day.
"Sometime after 8 a.m. this morning, an individual arrived here inside of their vehicle in front of the Sheriff's Office," said Henry County Sheriff Wayne Davis shortly after the incident occurred. "We do know that individual spoke with some individuals he knows about possible pending legal issues and the preliminary investigation at this point would show that he didn't exit his vehicle; in fact we believe he probably took his own life here."
A firearm was recovered from inside the vehicle with the body and the final cause and manner of death will be determined by the Chief Medical Examiner's Office in Roanoke, Davis said.
Davis would not confirm the identity of the body Tuesday morning, pending notification of family members, but several friends and business partners told the Bulletin the suicide victim and Wooden are the same.
Wooden graduated from Martinsville High School in 2004 and studied at Patrick & Henry Community College, according to his Facebook page.
He increasingly made himself known in the real estate community, with frequent real estate purchases throughout Martinsville and Henry County, mostly in various business names including Yo Daddy's Properties, AF Investments and FreWay.
Wooden was a significant purchaser at an $8 million property auction sale in November 2022, involving the estate of real estate investor Ted Balabanis, who died in February 2022.
Wooden is also listed as the executive producer of "Molasses," a locally made suspense, thriller series written and directed by Rudy's Girl Media founder and owner Natalie Hodge, due to be released next week.
This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org
Bill Wyatt (276) 591-7543
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