Former Phoenix reporter who broke Clinton-Lynch tarmac story dies

Veteran Alabama reporter and anchor Christopher Sign, who previously worked in Phoenix for more than a decade, was found dead by the local Hoover police Saturday morning, according to Hoover Police Department Capt. Keith Czeskleba.

Sign broke the news of a 2016 meeting between former President Bill Clinton, whose wife Hillary Clinton at the time was running for president and was being investigated by the FBI, and the then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport tarmac. At the time, their meeting was cast as a potential conflict of interest.

A report by the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Justice detailed what took place at that meeting.

Sign moved from Alabama to Arizona in 2005 and spent 13 years working in the Valley of the Sun where he won numerous awards including an Edward R. Murrow Award for spot news and an Emmy for breaking news coverage on the search for the 'Baseline Killer' and 'Serial Shooter,' according to a bio from ABC 33/40. 

He moved back to Alabama in 2017 to work with ABC 33/40 to spend more time with his family, according to the station’s obituary. 

“We have lost a revered colleague who's indelible imprint will serve forever as a hallmark of decency, honesty and journalist integrity,” ABC 33/40 Vice President & General Manager Eric Land said in a statement. 

Phoenix colleagues remember Sign

In Phoenix and across the Valley, an outpouring of condolences from former readers and former colleagues filled social media.

"All of us who had the pleasure of working with him, and calling him our friend, are shocked and devastated by the news of his passing. Our hearts go out to his friends and family in Arizona, and Alabama," ABC15 anchor Steve Irvin said on Facebook.

"Always hopeful. Always encouraging. Always honest. Always inspiring. ALWAYS a REAL friend," ABC15 anchor Kaley O'Kelley posted.

"He taught me so much about life in & out of the newsroom," ABC15 anchor Danielle Lerner wrote. "He was an incredibly talented and dedicated journalist... but more importantly, was a devoted husband, father and friend."

Sign is survived by his wife and three sons. 

Hoover police received a call around 8 a.m. of a person down, found Sign and pronounced him dead, according to Czeskleba.

Police said his death appeared to be a suicide. 

Services for Arizonans in crisis include:

• Dial 2-1-1 at any time to reach the free 2-1-1 Arizona information and referral service and connect with free resources available locally throughout the state. The same number will connect callers to the free Resilient Arizona Crisis Counseling Program. 
• Solari Crisis & Human Services offers free crisis lines 24/7/365 – dial 800-631-1314 for Maricopa County and 877-756-4090 for Northern Arizona. 
• The National Suicide Prevention Line is available 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255 in English and 1-888-628-9454 in Spanish. It's free and confidential for those in distress who need prevention or crisis resources for themselves or loved ones.
• La Frontera Empact Suicide Prevention Center's crisis line serves Maricopa and Pinal counties 24/7 at 480-784-1500.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Reach breaking news reporter Miguel Torres at Miguel.Torres@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter @MTorresTweet.