Byron "Low Tax" Looper died of 'heart event'

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A preliminary autopsy report has found that Byron Looper, a Tennessee inmate serving a life sentence for the murder of state Sen. Tommy Burks, died in his cell this week of a "heart event." Looper once lived in Gainesville and ran for the Georgia House.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports that Looper's family has requested an independent autopsy. (See second link below for more on Looper's death and other information.)

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman Kristin Helm says agents haven't ruled out foul play in the case. She says the death investigation will proceed until the final autopsy report is completed and then will be turned over to the district attorney's office.

Looper was convicted of murder in the Oct. 19, 1998, fatal shooting of Burks while he sat in his pickup truck near his Cumberland County farm. Looper was running as a Republican against Burks for the state senate seat.

When Looper lived in Gainesville he ran an unsuccessful race against Gainesville Attorney Wyc Orr for the State House. (See earlier story. First link below.)

(AccessNorthGa.com's Ken Stanford contributed to this story.)