A person of interest from a 1998 case in Delaware County, Oklahoma, has died. 

 Delaware County Sheriff James Beck says his office was notified by the Welasco Police Department in Texas earlier today that 79-year-old James Sweeten, a person of interest in the disappearance of his ex-wife Peggy Sweeten in 1998, allegedly contacted them, stating he wanted to harm himself. When officers arrived, Sweeten was found deceased in an outbuilding from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The death has been confirmed by Delaware County Cold Case Detective Mark Wall.

 52-year-old Peggy Sweeten was last seen January 13th, 1998. New evidence authorities found last week yielded no answers. 

 The investigation continues in Delaware County, with a new investigation beginning  in Welasco.