A coroner in coastal Georgia says the December death of a Glynn County commissioner who drowned after being shot in the head has been ruled a suicide by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's medical examiner.

Glynn County Coroner Jimmy Durden told The Associated Press he was informed by phone Friday that the medical examiner concluded Commissioner Tom Sublett killed himself.

GBI spokesman John Bankhead would not confirm the finding. He said the investigation into Sublett's death Dec. 11 remains open and agents still have "other items to look into."

Authorities found Sublett's body by a docked boat on St. Simons Island hours after he failed to come home from a poker game with friends.

Mark Johnson, an attorney for Sublett's family, says the family does not believe Sublett killed himself.

Tags: Glynn County, suicide, Commissioner Tom Sublett