Death at Calumet ruled a suicide

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Linda Witman, whose body was found Wednesday morning by landscaping workers at Calumet Farm here, committed suicide, the Fayette County coroner’s office reported Friday afternoon.

Witman, 48, was married to Bill Witman, who manages the famed Thoroughbred farm for the late Henryk de Kwiatkowski’s family trust. Linda Witman previously worked for Will Farish’s Lane’s End Farm in its bloodstock and sales departments.

Landscapers found Witman’s body in a barn near the back of the Calumet property, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. The coroner’s report said she had died on a gunshot wound to the head.

Bill Witman has reported his wife missing on Sunday night after she failed to meet him at the airport as planned. That prompted a search of the property on Sunday and Monday.

“The entire Calumet family is deeply saddened by the tragic death of Linda Witman,” attorney Barry Stilz said in a statement released on behalf of the farm. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Witman family at this time of need. In an effort to respect the privacy of the Witman family, we will have no further comment.”