Originally published Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at 5:19 AM

Wife: famed Appalachian moonshiner Marvin Sutton took own life to avoid looming prison term

The wife of famed Appalachian moonshiner Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton says he took his own life at his Tennessee home because he couldn't stand the thought of going to prison.

PARROTTSVILLE, Tenn. —

The wife of famed Appalachian moonshiner Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton says he took his own life at his Tennessee home because he couldn't stand the thought of going to prison.

Pam Sutton told The Asheville Citizen Times in North Carolina that her husband was depressed about an 18-month federal sentence he was due to start serving Friday. A telephone listing for Sutton could not immediately be found by The Associated Press.

Tennessee authorities have said they suspected suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning after Marvin Sutton was found Monday dead in his car in Parrottsville. An autopsy has been ordered.

The author of the book "Me and My Likker" pleaded guilty in April to illegally producing distilled spirits and being a felon in possession of a handgun.

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Information from: The Asheville Citizen-Times, http://www.citizen-times.com

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