Boss of US loans giant in 'suicide'.

THE acting head of US government mortgage giant Freddie Mac was found dead in an apparent suicide yesterday.

David Kellermann was found dead in his Northern Virginia home yesterday morning, according to local media reports.

The 41-year-old Kellermann has been Freddie Mac's chief financial officer since September.

A Fairfax County police spokeswoman said Mr Kellermann was dead, but she could not confirm that he committed suicide.

The death is the latest blow to Freddie Mac, a government controlled company that owns or guarantees about 13 million home loans. Chief executive David Moffett resigned last month.

McLean, Virginia-based Freddie Mac and sibling company Fannie Mae, which together own or back more than half of the home mortgages in the US, have been hit by skyrocketing loan defaults and have received about 60 billion dollars in combined federal aid..