Deborah Jean Palfrey, the so-called “D.C. Madam” recently convicted for her role as the head of an escort agency, has committed suicide, police officials said, BBC News reports. It appears she was found hanged in a shed outside her mother’s house in Florida.

The 52-year-old woman was convicted two weeks ago of running a prostitution service that catered to members of Washington's political elite, including Sen. David Vitter, a Louisiana Republican. She vowed she would never go to prison not even for a day.

Palfrey was free while she awaited sentencing on July 24, the Associated Press reports. She was facing a maximum 55-year prison term.

According to the police, Palfrey had left a suicide note. However, no other details were disclosed.

“This is a tragic news and my heart goes out to her mother,” said Preston Burton, the attorney who represented Ms Palfrey in her trial.

Blanche Palfrey told investigators she had no indication that her daughter was suicidal, police Capt. Jeffrey Young said.

“I'm sure as heck not going to be going to federal prison for one day, let alone four to eight years, because I'm shy about bringing in the deputy secretary of whatever,” Palfrey told ABC News in an interview last year when she released phone records that revealed some of her clients. “Not for a second. I'll bring every last one of them in if necessary,” she added.

Palfrey operated the prostitution service for 13 years. She was not the first person linked to the sex ring to commit suicide. Brandy Britton, one of the accused escorts, committed suicide in January before she was scheduled to go to trial.