Former state attorney general's son dies in apparent suicide

The son of former Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan died this weekend in Elmhurst, the victim of an apparent suicide.

Police today said Patrick J. Ryan, 24, died Sunday from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the family home.

Elmhurst police Chief Steve Neubauer said a family member called 911 at 6:36 p.m. Sunday to report Patrick had a handgun. The family member was outside the home when police arrived.

Neubauer said police crisis negotiators tried to make contact. He said Patrick answered the phone once, but hung up after a short conversation. Officers entered the house and found the young man dead.

In a statement released to media, the Ryan family said: "Patrick was a loving son, caring brother and a compassionate uncle.

"He was the joy of our life. Our family asks that you respect our privacy as we mourn his unfortunate passing."

It is the latest in a gauntlet of personal tragedies for the family.

Jim Ryan fought and beat cancer three times. In between the first two cases came the unexpected 1997 death of his 12-year-old daughter, Annie, the youngest of six children, from an undiagnosed brain tumor.

Ryan's wife, Marie, also battled a mysterious virus that same year that initially appeared to be a heart attack.

Ryan started in rough-and-tumble DuPage Republican politics by losing his first race for state's attorney but winning his next three, beginning in 1984, building name recognition, most of it positive, among voters.

He went on to serve two terms as Illinois attorney general from 1995 to 2003 and, in 2002, lost a hard-fought gubernatorial bid against Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The Ryan family was preparing funeral arrangements today. Services will be handled by Pedersen-Ryberg Mortuary in Elmhurst.