The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office shares with profound sorrow and deep sadness that a deputy took his own life this morning in Ruskin-Wimauma.
On March 3, 2026, at approximately 7:20 a.m., a family member of Deputy Jeremiah Stewart, 36, found him deceased outside of their home with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Deputy Stewart worked with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office for seven years, most recently on patrol in District IV. He previously served six years in the United States Army and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2012.
“Today, our entire agency is grieving. We lost a member of our HCSO family, and that pain is shared by every deputy and employee, said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “We are lifting up this deputy’s loved ones in prayer and ensuring our deputies have the care, resources and support they need. To anyone who may be struggling, please know there is help and hope. You are not alone.”
If you or someone you know is in crisis, help is just a phone call away. Call the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay at 211.