D.C. madam's death confirmed as suicide

TARPON SPRINGS, Fla., May 5 (UPI) -- The death of the so-called D.C. Madam was officially ruled a suicide Monday by a medical examiner in Florida.

Deborah Jean Palfrey, 52, was found hanging in a shed at her mother's home in Tarpon Springs last week.

A suicide note found at the scene was released Monday by the police, the St. Petersburg Times said. In it, Palfrey apologized for any pain she may have caused her family but was unable to deal with the prospect of going to prison.

Palfrey was awaiting sentencing in July on charges stemming from a call-girl escort service she ran in the nation's capital.