Villa Rica city manager found dead

VILLA RICA - Villa Rica city manager Steve Russell, under investigation for alleged improper loans from city accounts, was found dead in a wooded area Monday, one week before the case was to go to a grand jury. <br> <br> ``It appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot,&#39;&#39; Douglas County Chief Deputy Stan Copeland said. <br> <br> Russell, 49, had been put on six-months probation and docked two months&#39; pay Aug. 12 after Mayor Monroe Spake and members of the city council said he falsified minutes to show the council had approved two separate loans totaling $54,845. Russell reportedly paid the money back. <br> <br> The loans had been investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and District Attorney Pete Skandalakis said multiple counts of theft by conversion and one of false statement to a government agency were to be presented to the grand jury, which meets Oct. 7.