Springfield Attorney Found Dead in Home

A Springfield attorney is found dead in his home leaving Greene County deputies investigating their first homicide of the year.

Rolland Comstock was a tax and probate attorney.  He also served in the Missouri House of Representatives in the 1960’s.  He lived on a gated property in northern Greene County north of McDaniel Lake.

Neighbors in the rural area say the crime has them taking caution.

"I've got a gate out here.  I shut it every night to keep the dogs." says John Reynolds, Comstock’s neighbor.

Comstock's neighbors say the tax and probate attorney always kept his gates locked too.  That has locals and law enforcement wondering how a possible suspect could have entered the estate where Comstock was found with at least one fatal gunshot wound.

"We are following leads at this time.  We haven’t pinpointed a suspect at this time, but we're following leads up and interviewing people.” says Chief Deputy Jim Arnott, Greene County Sheriff’s Department.

The sheriff's department has ruled out suicide.  They say a son lives adjacent to this property.  Comstock was going through a divorce and his house is for sale.

The firm of Comstock and Rose says it won't make an official statement until after the holiday.

Authorities say they haven't ruled out the idea that someone might have wanted to get their hands on one of Comstock's books.

In1996, KOLR/KSFX had a chance to visit with Comstock and see his collection of about 50,000 books.  In the early 1990’s, he even had to build a $200,000 addition to his house.