St. Louis NBC affiliate KSDK had to cancel plans to air an investigative report about a local contractor after the man died the morning before the story about him was supposed to air.
The Gannett owned station announced the death on its 10:00 p.m. news on Monday. “The man who was the subject of a “Five On Your Side” investigation scheduled to air tonight has been found dead in his Town and Country home,” read KSDK anchor Mike Bush. “Police say Jamie Hart, owner of Castle Rock Remodeling was found this morning. Out of respect for his family and colleagues, details of our story will air at a later time.”
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Town and Country, MO, police said they found no signs of foul play and the St. Louis Medical Examiner’s office said Hart didn’t die of a heart attack and had no signs of trauma on his body.
Two years ago Hart, 40, lost a suit he brought against the Better Business Bureau of Greater St. Louis for libel and tortious interference, claiming the “BBB manipulated its standards, treated it differently than other business, and insincerely and maliciously gave it a “C” rating, rather than the higher rating it claims it deserved.”
The station wouldn’t comment on the story’s content. A station spokesperson referred TVSpy to the on-air statement and added the report would be aired sometime in the future.