Ken Lay has died of a massive heart attack, according to news reports.

``Ken Lay passed away early this morning in Aspen,'' his spokeswoman Kelly Kimberly said in a statement. ``The Lays have a very large family with whom we need to communicate. Out of respect for them we are not releasing any more information at this time.'' Lay's defense lawyer Mike Ramsey said through a spokeswoman that his client died ``from what appears to have been a heart attack.''

Lay becomes Enron's second victim, quite literally, following the suicide of former Enron executive Cliff Baxter, writes the Washington Post's Andrew Cohen.

"It will be fascinating now to see whether this tragedy alters the negative perceptions so many people had of Ken Lay and also whether this impacts in some way the sentencing of former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling. I doubt the latter but I'm not sure about the former."

Lay's last words are on his personal site.

"In spite of what has happened, I am still a very blessed man. I have a very warm, loving and Christian wife and family that supports me, as well as many, many loving and supportive friends. I'd like to thank all of the people who have shown their concern, support and kept our family in their prayers.

"Most of all, my family and I believe that God is in control and, indeed, He does work all things for good for those who love the Lord. And we love our Lord."

If his prayer was to stay out of jail, his wish has been granted, writes the Globe and Mail's Barrie McKenna.

The Daily Kos blog runs a poll on which circle of hell Ken Lay would find himself in.