UPDATE
(AP) -- The body of the South Carolina Hospitality Association president missing for more than a week has been found, and Columbia Police Chief Randy Scott says Tom Sponseller died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Chief Scott says Sponseller's body was found around 11 a.m. Tuesday in the lower level of a parking garage near the man's office.
Scott says Sponseller suffered from a self-inflicted gun shot wound and police found a 9MM gun near his body in a locked room in the parking garage.
Police did not have access to the locked room where his body was found until today.
"I'm not disappointed in our efforts, I am disappointed we did not find him," says Chief Randy Scott.
The 61-year-old Sponseller had been missing since he was last seen at his office Feb. 18. Police said they had combed his office building and nearby parking garage but said Tuesday that Sponseller's body was in a room on the garage's lower level.
Federal officials confirmed Monday that they are investigating the association's finances but said Sponseller was not a target.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
