Rep. Paul Gillmor (R-Ohio) was found dead in his Washington, D.C., apartment Wednesday morning, after suffering from an apparent heart attack.

When Gillmor, who returned from the August recess and voted in the House last night, did not show up to work Wednesday his staff was dispatched to check on him.

Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) announced Gillmor’s death on the House floor Wednesday afternoon.

“Paul was a good friend to all of us, a colleague of mine who served in the House for nearly two decades,” Boehner said. “He’s going to be missed by all of us.”

While the official cause of death has not been determined, initial indications were that the 68-year-old lawmaker may have suffered a heart attack.

Gillmor had been considered a retirement possibility in 2008. A special election will be held to fill the vacancy.

— Lauren W. Whittington