Tragedy deepens in scandal enveloping ex-San Antonio attorney Chris Pettit

The scandal enveloping ex-San Antonio attorney Chris Pettit has developed into a deeper tragedy. Charles Joseph Pettit, Chris Pettit’s younger brother, died in an apparent suicide after the disgraced former attorney’s alleged misdeeds were made public. A redacted version of an incident report released by the San Antonio Police Department shows Chris Pettit asked July 12 for officers to make a welfare check on his brother. He was concerned because the two hadn’t been in touch since a text message June 16. Chris Pettit was living in Florida at the time. A locksmith unlocked a side entrance to the house in the 15700 block of Deer Crest where Charles Pettit had lived alone.

A strong odor overwhelmed the officers as they entered the house. Charles Pettit was found on his back in a front bedroom “covered in plastic over what could be seen of his upper/body head,” according to an unredacted version of the police report obtained by the Express-News. “There were obvious signs of decomposition.” Officers reported “no signs of suspicious circumstances were present.” Several cats were in the house and packages had accumulated outside the front door. A vehicle was in the garage. Police are treating the death as a suicide, a spokesman said. However, the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office said the cause and manner of death was pending. An autopsy report was not available. Charles Pettit’s body was discovered 18 days shy of his 50th birthday. He was Chris Pettit’s last surviving sibling. Two older brothers, Jonathan and Martin, died previously. The former attorney entered the spotlight in late May after being sued numerous times for allegedly absconding with millions of dollars in clients’ money. He and his law firm filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection June 1, reporting $40.5 million in assets and $112.2 million in liabilities. He also surrendered his law license and closed his law firm. Chris Pettit had been practicing law for more than three decades, specializing in estate planning and personal-injury cases.