Landis's father-in-law dead of apparent suicide

SignOnSanDiego.com | Cyclist Landis' father-in-law dies

Tour de France winner Floyd Landis's father-in-law was found dead in his car Tuesday afternoon, an apparent suicide.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that medical examiners are still investigating the cause of death, but initial police reports called it a suicide.

David Witt, 57, who owned a restaurant in San Diego with his wife, was Landis's roommate soon after Landis moved to San Diego. Witt, who shared a coach with Landis, was dating his wife Rose at the time, and introduced Landis to her daughter from a previous marriage, Amber Basile.

Witt and Landis served as best men at each other's weddings.

Update: Coroner's office officials have reported Witt died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Witt's suicide was probably not a direct result of the doping case against Landis, according to family friend Dwight Van Slyke:

“It could have been a few percentages of the whole maybe, or just another negative thing that he was depressed over,” said van Slyke, adding Witt had also been struggling under the strain of opening a new restaurant earlier this year.