Jamie Hawn, a Democratic political strategist, died early Wednesday when Raleign police said that Jonathan Broyhill, a best man at her wedding in 2009, stabbed her and her husband Nation at their home, the Associated Press reported. Broyhill has been charged with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury. Raleigh police said Wednesday they expect to upgrade Broyhill's charges to murder.
Broyhil was working for Sky Blue Strategies, Hawn's political consultant firm. The cause, some believe, may be a feeling of a misappropriation of Broyhill's funds by Hawn.
Former Democratic U.S. Democratic Representative Brad Miller, who opted to not seek re-election in 2012, said he hired Sky Blue for fundraising help in 2010. Broyhill was the primary person with access to fundraising software Miller said.
"Some of the things that Jon said about the campaign finances were inconsistent with other information," Miller said Wednesday, according to the Raleigh News Observer. "It's probably the case that Jamie was asking questions on behalf of the campaign about campaign finances. I think it's bound to be part of the investigation of Jon's motive," Miller said
Miller emphasized that he is unaware of any law enforcement inquiry into election money and said any investigation is limited to his campaign. The Federal Elections Commission sent Miller campaign treasurer John Wallace a letter requesting details on donors who appear to have received refunds amounting to almost double what they donated, news reports said.
Broyhill is still in the hospital with self-inflicted injuries, according to police spokesman Jim Sughrue.
Nation and Jamie Hahn, both graduates of UNC-Chapel Hill, got married in April 2009.
In its statement Wednesday, the family said Jamie Hahn "believed in justice, opportunity and fairness for all. She loved politics, and she saw the Democratic Party as the path to realize her ideals."
Nation, who had been friends with the suspect, is well-known among North Carolina Democrats as an online strategist who has helped many politicians and nonprofit organizations with direct mail and email campaigns.
