10-30-2007 Idaho:
BOISE - A convicted rapist who escaped from police custody last night committed suicide in emergency room restroom at St. Alphonsus this morning.
The Ada County coroner's report indicates William Dean Blakeslee, 25, of Boise, died from a gunshot wound to the head.
Blakeslee pleaded guilty to raping a woman he knew last November. He was found guilty and given a 10-year sentence.
A judge later ordered him to attend off-site sex offender treatment. Blakeslee was on the furlough Monday night for treatment when he did not return to the Ada County Jail.
A warrant of $1 million had been issued for Blakeslee’s arrest.
The entrance to St. Alphonsus was temporarily closed this morning, as police responded to reports of a gunshot being fired.
The hospital spokesman says a man killed himself in the bathroom of the emergency department lobby.
No one else was in the bathroom at the time. A security guard found the man and called 911.
Boise police quickly determined no crime was committed and deemed this a suicide. ..more.. by KTVB.com
Escape Rapist Commits Suicide
Article Tags
.Idaho,
2007,
Age 24-36,
by Gunshot,
Suicide/s US - of RSOs
Murder and Suicide Reviving Claims of Child Abuse in Cult
Anguished ex-cult member decried years of abuse before killing 'molester,' himself
1-15-2005 Arizona:
Growing up in the 1970's in a religious cult known around the world as the Children of God, Ricky Rodriguez was revered as "the prince." The group's leaders were his mother and stepfather, and they taught that their son would guide them all when the End Times came.
He was so special that his unconventional upbringing - by a collection of often-topless young nannies - was chronicled in "The Davidito Book," which was distributed to cult members as a how-to guide for rearing children. And children the cult had in multitudes.
Last Saturday in Tucson, Mr. Rodriguez, now 29, invited a former nanny, Angela Smith, to go to dinner. He took Ms. Smith to his apartment, stabbed her to death, went to his Chevrolet, drove west across the California border to a small desert town, Blythe, and called his wife on his cellphone to explain why he had killed Ms. Smith, the police in both states and Mr. Rodriguez's wife said.
Then with one shot from a semiautomatic handgun, the police said, he ended his life.
1-15-2005 Arizona:
Growing up in the 1970's in a religious cult known around the world as the Children of God, Ricky Rodriguez was revered as "the prince." The group's leaders were his mother and stepfather, and they taught that their son would guide them all when the End Times came.
He was so special that his unconventional upbringing - by a collection of often-topless young nannies - was chronicled in "The Davidito Book," which was distributed to cult members as a how-to guide for rearing children. And children the cult had in multitudes.
Last Saturday in Tucson, Mr. Rodriguez, now 29, invited a former nanny, Angela Smith, to go to dinner. He took Ms. Smith to his apartment, stabbed her to death, went to his Chevrolet, drove west across the California border to a small desert town, Blythe, and called his wife on his cellphone to explain why he had killed Ms. Smith, the police in both states and Mr. Rodriguez's wife said.
Then with one shot from a semiautomatic handgun, the police said, he ended his life.
Beauty spot body is sex trial man
Article Tags
( to be removed
7-24-2001 United Kingdom:
A SUSPECTED child molester has been found dead at a North-East beauty spot, it was revealed last night.
Norman Dyer, of Lockerbie Walk, Thornaby, Teesside, went missing on April 19, after appearing in the dock for the first day of his trial at crown court.
The body of the 49-year-old married man was discovered on Sunday evening just off the popular Castle Eden Walkway near his home - the scene of one of his alleged crimes.
Stockton Police last night confirmed the identity of the body and revealed they are not treating his death as suspicious.
Only hours before his disappearance, Teesside Crown Court had heard two schoolgirl sisters accuse Mr Dyer of sexual assault.
The court was told that Mr Dyer had taken one of the girls to walk his dog along Castle Eden Walkway and, when they stopped to rest, he had indecently assaulted her.
The girl claimed she only escaped his clutches by saying she thought she heard someone approaching.
She reported the incident to her family and then repeated it to the police in video-taped evidence.
During the investigation, the alleged victim's sister claimed she too had been indecently assaulted by Mr Dyer. She claimed that he had assaulted her five times in her own home.
Mr Dyer later admitted to police that he had tickled one the sisters in front of her mother, but denied any wrongdoing.
He pleaded not guilty to three charges of indecent assault between May and June last year.
The case was adjourned after the first day of proceedings following Mr Dyer's disappearance. ..more.. by Northern Echo
A SUSPECTED child molester has been found dead at a North-East beauty spot, it was revealed last night.
Norman Dyer, of Lockerbie Walk, Thornaby, Teesside, went missing on April 19, after appearing in the dock for the first day of his trial at crown court.
The body of the 49-year-old married man was discovered on Sunday evening just off the popular Castle Eden Walkway near his home - the scene of one of his alleged crimes.
Stockton Police last night confirmed the identity of the body and revealed they are not treating his death as suspicious.
Only hours before his disappearance, Teesside Crown Court had heard two schoolgirl sisters accuse Mr Dyer of sexual assault.
The court was told that Mr Dyer had taken one of the girls to walk his dog along Castle Eden Walkway and, when they stopped to rest, he had indecently assaulted her.
The girl claimed she only escaped his clutches by saying she thought she heard someone approaching.
She reported the incident to her family and then repeated it to the police in video-taped evidence.
During the investigation, the alleged victim's sister claimed she too had been indecently assaulted by Mr Dyer. She claimed that he had assaulted her five times in her own home.
Mr Dyer later admitted to police that he had tickled one the sisters in front of her mother, but denied any wrongdoing.
He pleaded not guilty to three charges of indecent assault between May and June last year.
The case was adjourned after the first day of proceedings following Mr Dyer's disappearance. ..more.. by Northern Echo
Former camp director charged with enticing child kills self
Article Tags
.Alabama,
2007,
Age 49-59,
by Unknown Cause,
Suicide/s US - of SOs Accused
5-23-2007 Alabama:
ASHVILLE – A former local youth camp director, who was expected to make his initial court appearance today to face charges of enticing a child for immoral purposes, was found dead of an apparent suicide Tuesday.
St. Clair County Sheriff Terry Surles said the body of Larry Ray Palmer, 59, of Ashville was discovered Tuesday at his residence. Officials declined comment on how he died.
Palmer was arrested April 12 after he allegedly enticed a child for immoral purposes. He was released shortly after his arrest, posting a $50,000 bond. Palmer had remained out of jail on bond until his death.
It was the St. Clair County Baptist Association that reported to the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department allegations made against Palmer involving a juvenile boy. The report led to Palmer’s arrest in April.
Palmer was hired by the Baptist Association as its interim camp director for Camp SonShine only months before his arrest. Shortly before his arrest, the association voted to relieve Palmer of all his duties as interim director.
After Palmer’s arrest, the association also voted to cancel summer camp at Camp SonShine, located just north of Pell City.
According to court documents, Palmer allegedly enticed a 13-year-old boy “into his residence and other locations for the purpose of viewing pornography, mutual masturbation and sexual touching.”
The incident he was charged with allegedly happened at Camp SonShine and at his residence, Feb. 23, 2007, according to court documents.
“I won’t deny the charge,” Palmer told The Daily Home shortly after he was released from the St. Clair County Jail in April. “I messed up, and I know that.”
Palmer said he took a teenager to swim at the camp’s pool. He said his swimming trunks kept falling off, so he put them along the side of the pool and was only skinny-dipping in the pool with the youth.
“It was still wrong for a Christian to do that,” Palmer said. “I stepped over the line.”
District Attorney Richard Minor said he was notified of Palmer’s death late Tuesday.
“Mr. Palmer had a court date for 9 a.m. tomorrow in District Court in front of Judge (Phil) Seay,” Minor said late Tuesday. “Based upon his death today, our office will now file a motion to dismiss based upon the defendant’s death.”
Minor said the motion he will file today in court is called an abatement motion.
He normally waits until he receives a death certification before filing an abatement motion, but because of the pending criminal charges and since the sheriff and coroner called his office and informed him of Palmer’s death, he will move forward and file the motion in court today.
Whitt Hibbs, pastor of Arbor Baptist Church in Pell City, who also serves on the Camp SonShine Committee, said he also learned of Palmer’s death late Tuesday.
“I’m just at a loss for words,” Hibbs said. “My heart goes out to his family.”
Hibbs served with Palmer at Camp SonShine last summer.
“I hope now that there can be closure, healing, and we can put this behind us and move on,” Hibbs said. ..more.. by David Atchison
ASHVILLE – A former local youth camp director, who was expected to make his initial court appearance today to face charges of enticing a child for immoral purposes, was found dead of an apparent suicide Tuesday.
St. Clair County Sheriff Terry Surles said the body of Larry Ray Palmer, 59, of Ashville was discovered Tuesday at his residence. Officials declined comment on how he died.
Palmer was arrested April 12 after he allegedly enticed a child for immoral purposes. He was released shortly after his arrest, posting a $50,000 bond. Palmer had remained out of jail on bond until his death.
It was the St. Clair County Baptist Association that reported to the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department allegations made against Palmer involving a juvenile boy. The report led to Palmer’s arrest in April.
Palmer was hired by the Baptist Association as its interim camp director for Camp SonShine only months before his arrest. Shortly before his arrest, the association voted to relieve Palmer of all his duties as interim director.
After Palmer’s arrest, the association also voted to cancel summer camp at Camp SonShine, located just north of Pell City.
According to court documents, Palmer allegedly enticed a 13-year-old boy “into his residence and other locations for the purpose of viewing pornography, mutual masturbation and sexual touching.”
The incident he was charged with allegedly happened at Camp SonShine and at his residence, Feb. 23, 2007, according to court documents.
“I won’t deny the charge,” Palmer told The Daily Home shortly after he was released from the St. Clair County Jail in April. “I messed up, and I know that.”
Palmer said he took a teenager to swim at the camp’s pool. He said his swimming trunks kept falling off, so he put them along the side of the pool and was only skinny-dipping in the pool with the youth.
“It was still wrong for a Christian to do that,” Palmer said. “I stepped over the line.”
District Attorney Richard Minor said he was notified of Palmer’s death late Tuesday.
“Mr. Palmer had a court date for 9 a.m. tomorrow in District Court in front of Judge (Phil) Seay,” Minor said late Tuesday. “Based upon his death today, our office will now file a motion to dismiss based upon the defendant’s death.”
Minor said the motion he will file today in court is called an abatement motion.
He normally waits until he receives a death certification before filing an abatement motion, but because of the pending criminal charges and since the sheriff and coroner called his office and informed him of Palmer’s death, he will move forward and file the motion in court today.
Whitt Hibbs, pastor of Arbor Baptist Church in Pell City, who also serves on the Camp SonShine Committee, said he also learned of Palmer’s death late Tuesday.
“I’m just at a loss for words,” Hibbs said. “My heart goes out to his family.”
Hibbs served with Palmer at Camp SonShine last summer.
“I hope now that there can be closure, healing, and we can put this behind us and move on,” Hibbs said. ..more.. by David Atchison
TDK employee's death ruled self-inflicted
Article Tags
.Oklahoma,
2007,
Age 37-48,
by Machine,
Suicide - Extremely Violent,
Suicide/s US - of RSOs
10-26-2007 Oklahoma:
A TDK Ferrites employee who was killed Oct. 14 in an industrial accident at the Shawnee plant apparently died of self-inflicted injuries, an investigation has revealed.
Ron Stravlo, president of the local plant, made the announcement Thursday after a meeting concluded between TDK and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials who investigated the death.
"OSHA inspectors said TDK was not at fault in this case," Stravlo said. "It was employee misconduct a self-inflicted wound."
Stravlo said Joe Pennington, 47, was running a kneader-type machine, which simulates kneading of bread. The large machine is used to compound the plant's ferrite materials. Workers operate the machinery on the ground level, so there is no reason to climb onto the machine, Stravlo said, but that's what Pennington apparently did.
"He found a way to bypass all of the safety equipment," Stravlo said, and climbed up the machinery about seven feet.
After that, Stravlo said the employee was able to bend over his upper body inside the machine, where a chute comes down for sealing. Stravlo said it appears Pennington maneuvered his foot to activate the machine, which crushed him.
Another employee found him and ran for help. The medical examiner ruled cause of death as suffocation, Stravlo said.
Following the employee's death, it was discovered that the worker, whose legal name is Joe Pennington, was working at TDK under the alias Lawrence Joe Fox, 48. While employed at the Shawnee magnet manufacturing plant, he had a valid driver's license and Social Security number in the Fox name.
His true identity wasn't known until after he died and TDK officials tried to notify his family. That's when it was learned he was Joe Pennington, a wanted sex offender out of Arizona. Since 2003, Pennington had been sought for probation violations involving a 2001 Arizona conviction of sexual conduct with a minor and kidnapping, according to online court records.
Pennington started working at the Shawnee plant as an Express Personnel temporary employee in April 2004 and was hired full time earlier this year. He worked in several departments, Stravlo said, including 15 months in the powder house, where his death occurred.
Stravlo said Pennington knew the kneading machine "inside and out" and it appears he figured out a way to bypass safety regulations. Stravlo said there are four employees in the large powder house area who may not see each other much during their shifts, so Pennington had time alone while working. The incident happened about 11:30 a.m.
Stravlo said OSHA officials did a good job investigating all possible ways the death could have occurred because nothing made sense.
"They looked at everything," he said, and interviewed powder house employees, many who have been there more than 30 years. Worldwide, TDK has never experienced an on-the-job suicide, Stravlo said.
"We are deeply saddened by this incident and the grief it has caused in the plant," Stravlo said. "We have sympathy for Joe Fox's family, but TDK had nothing to do with this person's death."
OSHA officials have recommended placing "Do not climb on machines" signs in the powder house area, Stravlo said, and TDK officials will re-emphasize not climbing on machinery when training.
Pennington lived in Meeker. TDK employees knew him as Joe Fox, and he was a good employee while there, Stravlo said, only missing two days of work in more than three years of employment. Stravlo said grief counselors have been available to all TDK employees over the past week.
Shawnee police also investigated this case. Police have no knowledge of Pennington being in any trouble while living here in Oklahoma. ..more.. by Kim Morava
Death probe of TDK employee takes new twist
10-17-2007 Oklahoma:
A TDK Ferrites employee, who was killed Sunday in an industrial accident at the plant, was described by company officials as a "model employee." But Shawnee police said Tuesday he was a convicted sex offender and was wanted on charges in Arizona.
Company officials and police confirmed he worked at the local plant under a different name for more than 3 1/2 years.
Ron Stravlo, president of the Shawnee plant, said that Joseph Pennington, 47, worked under the name of Lawrence Joe Fox, 48, while working at TDK. The worker's real identity was not discovered until Stravlo was attempting to notify next of kin of the death.
"He had a legitimate Social Security account number and a valid Oklahoma driver's license," Stravlo said Tuesday.
"He apparently created his own identity," Shawnee Police Detective Ethan Rieves said Tuesday. "It doesn't appear he stole anyone's identity," the officer said.
The death remains under investigation. Stravlo said officials with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are in charge of the investigation.
"They were on site Monday and will return this morning," Stravlo said. "The company is cooperating with investigators to determine the cause of death."
Stravlo said that Pennington had worked at the local plant as an Express Personnel employee from April 2004 through April when he was hired full time.
"We followed the I-9 and federal laws in our hiring practice," Stravlo said.
He said, "There was no reason for us to not believe he was Joseph Fox."
Stravlo said Pennington had worked in several departments, including the grinding, pressing and powder house. He was in the powder house at the time of the fatal accident, Stravlo said, although how he died is still not known. Pennington was discovered around 11:40 a.m. Sunday by a fellow employee who immediately ran for help, Stravlo said.
"Fellow employees attempted to revive him and called 911. Their efforts were unsucessfull and he was pronounced dead at the scene. We believe he was dead at the time he was discovered," Stravlo said.
Because OSHA is in charge of the accident investigation, Stravlo said company officials cannot comment further about the scene or the man's death.
Stravlo said there were no emergency contact numbers for the victim. He said as he continued his efforts Sunday night to contact the next of kin, he called a number and a woman answered who identified herself as an aunt in Arizona.
"She didn't know of any other next of kin," Stravlo said he was told, but said she would continue to find other relatives.
On Monday, Stravlo said he received a phone call from a woman in Arizona who identified herself as Shirley Pennington.
"She tells me she is the mother of Joseph Fox. She said the person you know as Joseph Fox is not Joe Fox. His real name is Joe Pennington," Stravlo said, "and she gave me a different Social Security number. That number and his real name is Joe Pennington."
Stravlo said he was unsure if Shirley was Pennington's aunt or his mother.
However, Rieves said Shirley Pennington told police officials she was the man's aunt and that his mother had not been heard from for several months.
Authorities said that Joe Pennington, who lived in Meeker at 422 W. Carl Hubbell Blvd., was a convicted sex offender from Arizona. "He was wanted on charges of sexual abuse and failure to appear. And he never registered in Oklahoma," Rieves said.
"Arizona authorities would have wanted to extradite him had he been arrested," Rieves said.
Rieves said the last case Pennington was wanted on was in 2003.
The detective said he had been told the man was a drifter before he got the TDK job and remained somewhat of a loner. Pennington had not been in any trouble since coming to Oklahoma, Rieves said.
Stravlo said the man had missed only two days of work in the 312 years of employment.
Pennington's body was taken to the state medical examiner's office, Rieves said.
The TDK official said, "Regardless of who he is, we have a tragedy. We are doing everything we can to learn how the accident occurred, and to prevent it from happening again. But we haven't been able to determine that," Stravlo said. ..more.. by Mike McCormick, Executive Editor
A TDK Ferrites employee who was killed Oct. 14 in an industrial accident at the Shawnee plant apparently died of self-inflicted injuries, an investigation has revealed.
Ron Stravlo, president of the local plant, made the announcement Thursday after a meeting concluded between TDK and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials who investigated the death.
"OSHA inspectors said TDK was not at fault in this case," Stravlo said. "It was employee misconduct a self-inflicted wound."
Stravlo said Joe Pennington, 47, was running a kneader-type machine, which simulates kneading of bread. The large machine is used to compound the plant's ferrite materials. Workers operate the machinery on the ground level, so there is no reason to climb onto the machine, Stravlo said, but that's what Pennington apparently did.
"He found a way to bypass all of the safety equipment," Stravlo said, and climbed up the machinery about seven feet.
After that, Stravlo said the employee was able to bend over his upper body inside the machine, where a chute comes down for sealing. Stravlo said it appears Pennington maneuvered his foot to activate the machine, which crushed him.
Another employee found him and ran for help. The medical examiner ruled cause of death as suffocation, Stravlo said.
Following the employee's death, it was discovered that the worker, whose legal name is Joe Pennington, was working at TDK under the alias Lawrence Joe Fox, 48. While employed at the Shawnee magnet manufacturing plant, he had a valid driver's license and Social Security number in the Fox name.
His true identity wasn't known until after he died and TDK officials tried to notify his family. That's when it was learned he was Joe Pennington, a wanted sex offender out of Arizona. Since 2003, Pennington had been sought for probation violations involving a 2001 Arizona conviction of sexual conduct with a minor and kidnapping, according to online court records.
Pennington started working at the Shawnee plant as an Express Personnel temporary employee in April 2004 and was hired full time earlier this year. He worked in several departments, Stravlo said, including 15 months in the powder house, where his death occurred.
Stravlo said Pennington knew the kneading machine "inside and out" and it appears he figured out a way to bypass safety regulations. Stravlo said there are four employees in the large powder house area who may not see each other much during their shifts, so Pennington had time alone while working. The incident happened about 11:30 a.m.
Stravlo said OSHA officials did a good job investigating all possible ways the death could have occurred because nothing made sense.
"They looked at everything," he said, and interviewed powder house employees, many who have been there more than 30 years. Worldwide, TDK has never experienced an on-the-job suicide, Stravlo said.
"We are deeply saddened by this incident and the grief it has caused in the plant," Stravlo said. "We have sympathy for Joe Fox's family, but TDK had nothing to do with this person's death."
OSHA officials have recommended placing "Do not climb on machines" signs in the powder house area, Stravlo said, and TDK officials will re-emphasize not climbing on machinery when training.
Pennington lived in Meeker. TDK employees knew him as Joe Fox, and he was a good employee while there, Stravlo said, only missing two days of work in more than three years of employment. Stravlo said grief counselors have been available to all TDK employees over the past week.
Shawnee police also investigated this case. Police have no knowledge of Pennington being in any trouble while living here in Oklahoma. ..more.. by Kim Morava
Death probe of TDK employee takes new twist
10-17-2007 Oklahoma:
A TDK Ferrites employee, who was killed Sunday in an industrial accident at the plant, was described by company officials as a "model employee." But Shawnee police said Tuesday he was a convicted sex offender and was wanted on charges in Arizona.
Company officials and police confirmed he worked at the local plant under a different name for more than 3 1/2 years.
Ron Stravlo, president of the Shawnee plant, said that Joseph Pennington, 47, worked under the name of Lawrence Joe Fox, 48, while working at TDK. The worker's real identity was not discovered until Stravlo was attempting to notify next of kin of the death.
"He had a legitimate Social Security account number and a valid Oklahoma driver's license," Stravlo said Tuesday.
"He apparently created his own identity," Shawnee Police Detective Ethan Rieves said Tuesday. "It doesn't appear he stole anyone's identity," the officer said.
The death remains under investigation. Stravlo said officials with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are in charge of the investigation.
"They were on site Monday and will return this morning," Stravlo said. "The company is cooperating with investigators to determine the cause of death."
Stravlo said that Pennington had worked at the local plant as an Express Personnel employee from April 2004 through April when he was hired full time.
"We followed the I-9 and federal laws in our hiring practice," Stravlo said.
He said, "There was no reason for us to not believe he was Joseph Fox."
Stravlo said Pennington had worked in several departments, including the grinding, pressing and powder house. He was in the powder house at the time of the fatal accident, Stravlo said, although how he died is still not known. Pennington was discovered around 11:40 a.m. Sunday by a fellow employee who immediately ran for help, Stravlo said.
"Fellow employees attempted to revive him and called 911. Their efforts were unsucessfull and he was pronounced dead at the scene. We believe he was dead at the time he was discovered," Stravlo said.
Because OSHA is in charge of the accident investigation, Stravlo said company officials cannot comment further about the scene or the man's death.
Stravlo said there were no emergency contact numbers for the victim. He said as he continued his efforts Sunday night to contact the next of kin, he called a number and a woman answered who identified herself as an aunt in Arizona.
"She didn't know of any other next of kin," Stravlo said he was told, but said she would continue to find other relatives.
On Monday, Stravlo said he received a phone call from a woman in Arizona who identified herself as Shirley Pennington.
"She tells me she is the mother of Joseph Fox. She said the person you know as Joseph Fox is not Joe Fox. His real name is Joe Pennington," Stravlo said, "and she gave me a different Social Security number. That number and his real name is Joe Pennington."
Stravlo said he was unsure if Shirley was Pennington's aunt or his mother.
However, Rieves said Shirley Pennington told police officials she was the man's aunt and that his mother had not been heard from for several months.
Authorities said that Joe Pennington, who lived in Meeker at 422 W. Carl Hubbell Blvd., was a convicted sex offender from Arizona. "He was wanted on charges of sexual abuse and failure to appear. And he never registered in Oklahoma," Rieves said.
"Arizona authorities would have wanted to extradite him had he been arrested," Rieves said.
Rieves said the last case Pennington was wanted on was in 2003.
The detective said he had been told the man was a drifter before he got the TDK job and remained somewhat of a loner. Pennington had not been in any trouble since coming to Oklahoma, Rieves said.
Stravlo said the man had missed only two days of work in the 312 years of employment.
Pennington's body was taken to the state medical examiner's office, Rieves said.
The TDK official said, "Regardless of who he is, we have a tragedy. We are doing everything we can to learn how the accident occurred, and to prevent it from happening again. But we haven't been able to determine that," Stravlo said. ..more.. by Mike McCormick, Executive Editor
Man found dead in jail cell
Article Tags
.Illinois,
2007,
Age-P 37-48,
by Hanging,
in Jail - US,
Suicide/s US - of RSOs
9-5-2007 Illinois:
WILMINGTON -- A convicted sex offender apparently hanged himself Sunday while being held at the police station.
Jeffrey F. Weber, 37, of 408 S. Main St. in Wilmington had been arrested on charges of domestic battery and failing to comply with the state's sex offender registry requirements when he was found hanging in a holding cell.
"He was found hanging and unresponsive," Will County Coroner Patrick K. O'Neil said.
Weber was taken to the emergency room of Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, where he was pronounced dead at 9:15 p.m.
O'Neil said results from an autopsy and toxicology tests would officially determine the cause and manner of Weber's death, but preliminary indications show he took his own life.
"There are no signs of foul play," O'Neil said.
O'Neil said Wilmington police took Weber's shoes when he was taken into custody. He apparently used a drawstring from a piece of his clothing to hang himself.
Wilmington police are investigating the incident with assistance from the Will County sheriff's office.
Weber had previously been convicted of criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual abuse and unlawful restraint.
In December 2004, he raped a Braceville woman in his Joliet home a few hours after meeting her at the Will County Courthouse.
According to state police, Weber had not registered his current address as sex offenders are required to do. ..more.. by Brian Stanley
WILMINGTON -- A convicted sex offender apparently hanged himself Sunday while being held at the police station.
Jeffrey F. Weber, 37, of 408 S. Main St. in Wilmington had been arrested on charges of domestic battery and failing to comply with the state's sex offender registry requirements when he was found hanging in a holding cell.
"He was found hanging and unresponsive," Will County Coroner Patrick K. O'Neil said.
Weber was taken to the emergency room of Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, where he was pronounced dead at 9:15 p.m.
O'Neil said results from an autopsy and toxicology tests would officially determine the cause and manner of Weber's death, but preliminary indications show he took his own life.
"There are no signs of foul play," O'Neil said.
O'Neil said Wilmington police took Weber's shoes when he was taken into custody. He apparently used a drawstring from a piece of his clothing to hang himself.
Wilmington police are investigating the incident with assistance from the Will County sheriff's office.
Weber had previously been convicted of criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual abuse and unlawful restraint.
In December 2004, he raped a Braceville woman in his Joliet home a few hours after meeting her at the Will County Courthouse.
According to state police, Weber had not registered his current address as sex offenders are required to do. ..more.. by Brian Stanley
Child molester dies in California prison
Article Tags
.California,
2007,
Age-P 60-69,
by Overdose,
in Prison - US,
Suicide/s US - of RSOs
Family member reports Wilde committed suicide
10-1-2007 California:
Officials confirmed Monday that convicted child molester Gary Wilde died in custody.
Wilde, 67, a two-time convicted sex offender, pleaded guilty Aug. 15 in an Auburn courtroom to four counts of egregious child molestation and sex offenses.
He admitted to willfully committing four lewd and lascivious acts with "M.D.," a girl under the age of 14 between April 1 and April 30, 1994.
The name of the victim, and her younger sister, also a victim, are not being released due to the nature of the crimes.
A family member of Wilde's reported that the molester committed suicide while in custody at the California Department of corrections processing center by taking a large number of pills.
Lt. Ray Munoz, public information for Deuel Vocational Institute, said Wilde was in the Tracy facility's reception center when he died.
"The cause of death is pending," Munoz said.
The primary mission of the vocational institute is to serve as a "reception" center for Northern California counties. It houses inmates while compiling and evaluating the criminal records and background, according to the institute's Web site.
Once the reception process is completed, the inmate is transferred to one of 33 state prisons where they serve the remainder of their prison sentences.
Wilde admitted, during sentencing, to two prior "serious and violent" felony convictions of child molestation, one occurring in Orange County in 1989 and another conviction in 1991 in Sacramento County. In 1994, Wilde, then married and a registered sex offender in Auburn, befriended the parents of two young girls, ages 9 and 10. Wilde convinced the victims' mother to divorce her husband, marry him and to turn her two young daughters, ages 9 and 10, over to him.
They planned on starting a new life in Utah. But when the victims' mother went to join Wilde and her daughters in Utah, they had vanished.
Wilde moved the girls throughout the nation, living in Washington, Utah, Tennessee, Michigan, Nevada and most recently in Idaho, after absconding with the girls from their Newcastle home, officials said.
Detective Joe Rangel of the Auburn Police Department, in conjunction with the FBI, located Wilde after his eldest victim fled and contacted authorities.
"(She) made him angry. Gary went into the house and got his 9 mm and took shots at her. She stood her ground," Rangel has said. "After he stopped shooting at her she fled."
Judge Larry D. Gaddis sentenced Wilde to 25-years-to-life in state prison. Wilde had yet to be placed in a permanent facility when he died.
The Journal's Penne Usher can be reached at penneu@goldcountrymedia.com or post a comment on auburnjournal.com. ..more..
10-1-2007 California:
Officials confirmed Monday that convicted child molester Gary Wilde died in custody.
Wilde, 67, a two-time convicted sex offender, pleaded guilty Aug. 15 in an Auburn courtroom to four counts of egregious child molestation and sex offenses.
He admitted to willfully committing four lewd and lascivious acts with "M.D.," a girl under the age of 14 between April 1 and April 30, 1994.
The name of the victim, and her younger sister, also a victim, are not being released due to the nature of the crimes.
A family member of Wilde's reported that the molester committed suicide while in custody at the California Department of corrections processing center by taking a large number of pills.
Lt. Ray Munoz, public information for Deuel Vocational Institute, said Wilde was in the Tracy facility's reception center when he died.
"The cause of death is pending," Munoz said.
The primary mission of the vocational institute is to serve as a "reception" center for Northern California counties. It houses inmates while compiling and evaluating the criminal records and background, according to the institute's Web site.
Once the reception process is completed, the inmate is transferred to one of 33 state prisons where they serve the remainder of their prison sentences.
Wilde admitted, during sentencing, to two prior "serious and violent" felony convictions of child molestation, one occurring in Orange County in 1989 and another conviction in 1991 in Sacramento County. In 1994, Wilde, then married and a registered sex offender in Auburn, befriended the parents of two young girls, ages 9 and 10. Wilde convinced the victims' mother to divorce her husband, marry him and to turn her two young daughters, ages 9 and 10, over to him.
They planned on starting a new life in Utah. But when the victims' mother went to join Wilde and her daughters in Utah, they had vanished.
Wilde moved the girls throughout the nation, living in Washington, Utah, Tennessee, Michigan, Nevada and most recently in Idaho, after absconding with the girls from their Newcastle home, officials said.
Detective Joe Rangel of the Auburn Police Department, in conjunction with the FBI, located Wilde after his eldest victim fled and contacted authorities.
"(She) made him angry. Gary went into the house and got his 9 mm and took shots at her. She stood her ground," Rangel has said. "After he stopped shooting at her she fled."
Judge Larry D. Gaddis sentenced Wilde to 25-years-to-life in state prison. Wilde had yet to be placed in a permanent facility when he died.
The Journal's Penne Usher can be reached at penneu@goldcountrymedia.com or post a comment on auburnjournal.com. ..more..
County releases Hahn records
Article Tags
.Washington,
1981,
Age Unknown,
by Gunshot,
Suicide/s US - of SOs Accused
5-28-2005 Washington:
Investigative records relating to a sheriff deputy's suicide in 1981 – previously claimed to be "shredded" – were made public on Friday by Spokane County Sheriff Mark Sterk and county attorney James Emacio.
The 49 pages of sheriff's office records, first requested in January 2003 by The Spokesman-Review, detail allegations of child sexual abuse by Deputy David Hahn, who killed himself in 1981. The documents shed some light on the way sheriff's officials handled the investigation of Hahn, who was a decorated Vietnam War veteran and Boy Scout leader.
The newly released documents show Hahn was under investigation for molesting two boys just days prior to committing suicide with his service revolver. It was the third investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against Hahn. Two months earlier, Sheriff's Inspector Terry Snedden had closed another inquiry into the deputy.
Investigative records relating to a sheriff deputy's suicide in 1981 – previously claimed to be "shredded" – were made public on Friday by Spokane County Sheriff Mark Sterk and county attorney James Emacio.
The 49 pages of sheriff's office records, first requested in January 2003 by The Spokesman-Review, detail allegations of child sexual abuse by Deputy David Hahn, who killed himself in 1981. The documents shed some light on the way sheriff's officials handled the investigation of Hahn, who was a decorated Vietnam War veteran and Boy Scout leader.
The newly released documents show Hahn was under investigation for molesting two boys just days prior to committing suicide with his service revolver. It was the third investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against Hahn. Two months earlier, Sheriff's Inspector Terry Snedden had closed another inquiry into the deputy.
Convicted molester commits suicide
Article Tags
.Washington,
2007,
Age 24-36,
by Jumping off Bridge,
Suicide/s US - of RSOs
10-19-2007 Washington:
A short time after checking in with his probation officer, a convicted child molester committed suicide Wednesday by jumping from the Aurora Bridge, police said.
Soon after Bret Winch, 24, left the state Department of Corrections office in Seattle, a friend of Winch's called the office and said Winch was threatening to jump off a bridge. Winch, who most recently lived on Capitol Hill, didn't specify which bridge, according to DOC spokesman Chad Lewis.
Authorities "didn't find him in time," Lewis said. Seattle police and the DOC are investigating the 10:17 a.m. suicide off the Aurora Bridge.
Winch, a Level 2 sex offender, was convicted of molesting a relative in Cowlitz County in 2000 and given a reduced sentence with the promise that he participate in treatment. He has been recently enrolled in mental-health and sex-offender treatment, according to the DOC. ..more.. by
A short time after checking in with his probation officer, a convicted child molester committed suicide Wednesday by jumping from the Aurora Bridge, police said.
Soon after Bret Winch, 24, left the state Department of Corrections office in Seattle, a friend of Winch's called the office and said Winch was threatening to jump off a bridge. Winch, who most recently lived on Capitol Hill, didn't specify which bridge, according to DOC spokesman Chad Lewis.
Authorities "didn't find him in time," Lewis said. Seattle police and the DOC are investigating the 10:17 a.m. suicide off the Aurora Bridge.
Winch, a Level 2 sex offender, was convicted of molesting a relative in Cowlitz County in 2000 and given a reduced sentence with the promise that he participate in treatment. He has been recently enrolled in mental-health and sex-offender treatment, according to the DOC. ..more.. by
Coach in sex case apparent suicide
Rick Lopez found hanged in jail cell
12-27-2004 Colorado
A girls basketball coach awaiting trial on charges he had sex with three of his underage players apparently hanged himself Sunday in his jail cell.
Rick Lopez, 37, was the former coach of the Colorado Hoopsters and was in the Douglas County Detention Facility when a sheriff's deputy found him hanged in his cell, said Lt. Tim Moore, spokesman for the Douglas County Sheriff's Department.
Lopez was being held on $500,000 bail and faced 55 felony sex-assault charges and four misdemeanor charges for allegedly having sex with three players who were minors.
Lopez left a note, but Moore declined to discuss the contents of the note or what Lopez used to hang himself until investigations confirm it was a suicide.
"It's fairly unlikely that (it was anything but a suicide) due to the circumstances," Moore said. "But with a death in custody, we always investigate."
Lopez had a preliminary hearing this month in which a judge found there was enough evidence to hold him for trial.
Lopez had threatened suicide in tapes investigators made in July of phone calls between him and one of the players he allegedly assaulted. He also apologized to the girl on the tape about the alleged incidents.
Despite those threats, he was not on suicide watch.
"There was no indication that he was suicidal," Moore said. "The tape ... was made long before he was taken into custody."
Lopez was found at 12:22 p.m. as deputies made checks after lunch. He did not share the cell with another inmate; inmates can spend time either in common areas or in their cells during the day.
Moore said Lopez had been a model inmate and never fought with other prisoners.
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office, the county coroner and an 18th Judicial District Critical Incident Team composed of police from around the district will investigate the death.
Parents of two alleged victims declined to comment. The Denver Post does not name the alleged victims of sexual assaults without their permission.
"This is a sad day for all of those individuals, and my heart goes out to the victims, their families and all of the young ladies that were impacted by this," said Pat Miller, a parent who plays a management role on the Hoopsters and had a hand in Lopez's departure from the team. "It will take some time to bring closure. It's just a sad day that it came to this."
Chris Denker, head women's basketball coach at Colorado State, where several former Hoopsters have played, called the apparent suicide Lopez's final crime and said it robs ex-Hoopsters players and victims of a proper chance to heal through the legal process.
"The whole thing about Rick going back to Day One is that he was selfish. He showed his true colors by ending it like this, rather than showing any true remorse about the kids," Denker said. "You could talk about this being cowardly. You could talk about standing up and facing the facts. He showed no remorse.
"The players wanted a chance to put some finality to the situation through whatever the proper process is. Now, they're not going to have that opportunity."
Suzie Fisher, the mother of a former player who was not assaulted, said it didn't surprise her that Lopez appeared to have killed himself - she said he had threatened suicide to her. She also called it a selfish act.
"It was always about Rick," said the Littleton resident. "He didn't care about the girls. The ultimate act of selfishness is suicide."
She said the apparent suicide saves the girls from having to relive the experiences in court, but it also sends the wrong message.
"It's so sad for them," she added. "What a message to send that if you tell on the abuser, he will kill himself."
Shelly Steig, a former Hoopsters parent who complained that Lopez was verbally abusive in a Denver Post story that first reported the sexual allegations against him, said she was "very, very sad."
But, she added, "This story had to be told. It's a shame he hadn't been exposed before. Maybe if he had been exposed before, his life could have been saved and the girls that he hurt could have been protected."
"It's a sad ending to a sad story that's been going on a long time. That's about all I can say," said Eaglecrest girls basketball coach Sherryl Klosterman.
Added Kim LaLonde, who coaches the Boulder Rockies, another area girls club, "I'm relieved that the abuse is over."
Denker said he will "reach out" to Vanessa Espinoza, a former Hoopster on his team, and talk with her about Sunday's developments. Espinoza declined to comment.
"The kids I have or had (who played for Lopez) didn't have a good opinion of him. They thought they knew things that were happening (with the coach and other girls)," Denker said.
Lopez was accused of having sexual relationships with at least three of his former players, beginning when they were 13 and 14 years old. Douglas County sheriff's investigators said Lopez most often had sex with the girls at their parents' homes and sometimes on road trips.
"We really felt strongly about the strength of our case," said Moore. "We were looking forward to presenting that case in a public forum. However, we won't be able to do that now."
The Post story detailed accounts of four other women who played for Lopez. Three accused him of making sexual contact with them - one was of legal age at the time - and a fourth said she witnessed Lopez making inappropriate contact with another girl. The statute of limitations on those cases had expired by the time of publication.
After the story ran in October 2003, Lopez continued to coach the Hoopsters. He remained with them until July, when he abruptly left the team in the middle of a tournament in Oregon.
Police arrested him July 30 in Syracuse, N.Y., after he tried to contact one of three girls who pressed charges against him.
On the prosecution's tape, which was played during his preliminary hearing, Lopez said, "I know I'm a bad person. But I'm not evil."
The woman he was speaking with said, "You used me, manipulated, controlled me. If you really cared about me, you would have waited until I was older."
Staff writer Arthur Kane can be reached at 303-820-1626 or akane@denverpost.com. Staff writer Adam Thompson can be reached at 303-820-5447 or athompson@denverpost.com. Staff writer Bill Briggs can be reached at 303-820-1720 or bbriggs@denverpost.com. ..more.. by Arthur Kane, Adam Thompson and Bill Briggs, Denver Post Staff Writers
12-27-2004 Colorado
A girls basketball coach awaiting trial on charges he had sex with three of his underage players apparently hanged himself Sunday in his jail cell.
Rick Lopez, 37, was the former coach of the Colorado Hoopsters and was in the Douglas County Detention Facility when a sheriff's deputy found him hanged in his cell, said Lt. Tim Moore, spokesman for the Douglas County Sheriff's Department.
Lopez was being held on $500,000 bail and faced 55 felony sex-assault charges and four misdemeanor charges for allegedly having sex with three players who were minors.
Lopez left a note, but Moore declined to discuss the contents of the note or what Lopez used to hang himself until investigations confirm it was a suicide.
"It's fairly unlikely that (it was anything but a suicide) due to the circumstances," Moore said. "But with a death in custody, we always investigate."
Lopez had a preliminary hearing this month in which a judge found there was enough evidence to hold him for trial.
Lopez had threatened suicide in tapes investigators made in July of phone calls between him and one of the players he allegedly assaulted. He also apologized to the girl on the tape about the alleged incidents.
Despite those threats, he was not on suicide watch.
"There was no indication that he was suicidal," Moore said. "The tape ... was made long before he was taken into custody."
Lopez was found at 12:22 p.m. as deputies made checks after lunch. He did not share the cell with another inmate; inmates can spend time either in common areas or in their cells during the day.
Moore said Lopez had been a model inmate and never fought with other prisoners.
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office, the county coroner and an 18th Judicial District Critical Incident Team composed of police from around the district will investigate the death.
Parents of two alleged victims declined to comment. The Denver Post does not name the alleged victims of sexual assaults without their permission.
"This is a sad day for all of those individuals, and my heart goes out to the victims, their families and all of the young ladies that were impacted by this," said Pat Miller, a parent who plays a management role on the Hoopsters and had a hand in Lopez's departure from the team. "It will take some time to bring closure. It's just a sad day that it came to this."
Chris Denker, head women's basketball coach at Colorado State, where several former Hoopsters have played, called the apparent suicide Lopez's final crime and said it robs ex-Hoopsters players and victims of a proper chance to heal through the legal process.
"The whole thing about Rick going back to Day One is that he was selfish. He showed his true colors by ending it like this, rather than showing any true remorse about the kids," Denker said. "You could talk about this being cowardly. You could talk about standing up and facing the facts. He showed no remorse.
"The players wanted a chance to put some finality to the situation through whatever the proper process is. Now, they're not going to have that opportunity."
Suzie Fisher, the mother of a former player who was not assaulted, said it didn't surprise her that Lopez appeared to have killed himself - she said he had threatened suicide to her. She also called it a selfish act.
"It was always about Rick," said the Littleton resident. "He didn't care about the girls. The ultimate act of selfishness is suicide."
She said the apparent suicide saves the girls from having to relive the experiences in court, but it also sends the wrong message.
"It's so sad for them," she added. "What a message to send that if you tell on the abuser, he will kill himself."
Shelly Steig, a former Hoopsters parent who complained that Lopez was verbally abusive in a Denver Post story that first reported the sexual allegations against him, said she was "very, very sad."
But, she added, "This story had to be told. It's a shame he hadn't been exposed before. Maybe if he had been exposed before, his life could have been saved and the girls that he hurt could have been protected."
"It's a sad ending to a sad story that's been going on a long time. That's about all I can say," said Eaglecrest girls basketball coach Sherryl Klosterman.
Added Kim LaLonde, who coaches the Boulder Rockies, another area girls club, "I'm relieved that the abuse is over."
Denker said he will "reach out" to Vanessa Espinoza, a former Hoopster on his team, and talk with her about Sunday's developments. Espinoza declined to comment.
"The kids I have or had (who played for Lopez) didn't have a good opinion of him. They thought they knew things that were happening (with the coach and other girls)," Denker said.
Lopez was accused of having sexual relationships with at least three of his former players, beginning when they were 13 and 14 years old. Douglas County sheriff's investigators said Lopez most often had sex with the girls at their parents' homes and sometimes on road trips.
"We really felt strongly about the strength of our case," said Moore. "We were looking forward to presenting that case in a public forum. However, we won't be able to do that now."
The Post story detailed accounts of four other women who played for Lopez. Three accused him of making sexual contact with them - one was of legal age at the time - and a fourth said she witnessed Lopez making inappropriate contact with another girl. The statute of limitations on those cases had expired by the time of publication.
After the story ran in October 2003, Lopez continued to coach the Hoopsters. He remained with them until July, when he abruptly left the team in the middle of a tournament in Oregon.
Police arrested him July 30 in Syracuse, N.Y., after he tried to contact one of three girls who pressed charges against him.
On the prosecution's tape, which was played during his preliminary hearing, Lopez said, "I know I'm a bad person. But I'm not evil."
The woman he was speaking with said, "You used me, manipulated, controlled me. If you really cared about me, you would have waited until I was older."
Staff writer Arthur Kane can be reached at 303-820-1626 or akane@denverpost.com. Staff writer Adam Thompson can be reached at 303-820-5447 or athompson@denverpost.com. Staff writer Bill Briggs can be reached at 303-820-1720 or bbriggs@denverpost.com. ..more.. by Arthur Kane, Adam Thompson and Bill Briggs, Denver Post Staff Writers
Beachy Head Plunge Couple Named
Article Tags
( to be removed
1-6-2005 United Kingdom:
A man who plunged about 400ft from Beachy Head with his wife, three days before he was due to appear in court on 23 sex charges, was named by police today.
Terry Heley, 51, was listed to appear at Portsmouth Crown Court today on 22 charges of gross indecency with a child, and one charge of rape.
Heley, from Tedburn St Mary, near Exeter, was due before a judge for an in chambers preliminary hearing on the matter.
He was found early on Monday, with his 65-year-old wife Olivia, on a ledge 100ft from the foot of the Sussex cliffs, and their bodies were recovered by coastguards.
A Sussex Police spokesman said today that the deaths were not being treated as suspicious, and an inquest had been opened and adjourned.
Heley had been arrested in Portsmouth on December 20, said a Hampshire police spokesman.
Devon and Cornwall Police were alerted late on Sunday evening by a relative who had concerns for the welfare of the couple.
They contacted Sussex Police, after visiting the couple’s home, and a search was launched at Beachy Head. ..more.. by Chris Court, PA
A man who plunged about 400ft from Beachy Head with his wife, three days before he was due to appear in court on 23 sex charges, was named by police today.
Terry Heley, 51, was listed to appear at Portsmouth Crown Court today on 22 charges of gross indecency with a child, and one charge of rape.
Heley, from Tedburn St Mary, near Exeter, was due before a judge for an in chambers preliminary hearing on the matter.
He was found early on Monday, with his 65-year-old wife Olivia, on a ledge 100ft from the foot of the Sussex cliffs, and their bodies were recovered by coastguards.
A Sussex Police spokesman said today that the deaths were not being treated as suspicious, and an inquest had been opened and adjourned.
Heley had been arrested in Portsmouth on December 20, said a Hampshire police spokesman.
Devon and Cornwall Police were alerted late on Sunday evening by a relative who had concerns for the welfare of the couple.
They contacted Sussex Police, after visiting the couple’s home, and a search was launched at Beachy Head. ..more.. by Chris Court, PA
Man Flees Gainesville Sex Trial, Found Dead At Georgia Welcome Center
Article Tags
.Georgia,
2005,
Age 49-59,
by Hanging,
by Overdose,
Suicide/s US - of RSOs
7-27-2005 Georgia:
ST. MARYS, Ga. -- Police conducting a security check at the Georgia Welcome Station Saturday night found the body of a 50-year-old man who disappeared last week while on trial on child molestation charges in Gainesville, Fla.
A St. Marys officer spotted Gary Nicholson's Mercury Grand Marquis, parked at the south end of the parking lot about 7:15 p.m.
"He saw this particular car sitting way out of the way, all by itself," Lt. Frank Thornal said. "He didn't see anybody in the car or anybody on any of the picnic tables."
The officer looked closer and saw Nicholson's body was lying across the front seat with his belt wrapped around his neck.
The Camden County medical examiner ruled the cause of death as suffocation, suicide. Alachua County deputies were told a suicide note was found in the car.
Police said Nicholson, of Melrose, Fla., got in his car and left the courthouse while awaiting the verdict on a 2002 charge of sexual battery of a minor. He called his attorney to say he wasn't coming back.
After Nicholson's disappearance, the jury found Nicholson guilty of two counts of sexual battery of a minor and one count of sexual battery on a child under 12. ..more.. by News4
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
St. Mary's Georgia: The car parked by itself at the Georgia Welcome Station caused a police officer to run a check and find a man (Gary Nicholson) dead inside who had just been convicted in Florida of sexually battery on children. ..video.. by WJXT
ST. MARYS, Ga. -- Police conducting a security check at the Georgia Welcome Station Saturday night found the body of a 50-year-old man who disappeared last week while on trial on child molestation charges in Gainesville, Fla.
A St. Marys officer spotted Gary Nicholson's Mercury Grand Marquis, parked at the south end of the parking lot about 7:15 p.m.
"He saw this particular car sitting way out of the way, all by itself," Lt. Frank Thornal said. "He didn't see anybody in the car or anybody on any of the picnic tables."
The officer looked closer and saw Nicholson's body was lying across the front seat with his belt wrapped around his neck.
The Camden County medical examiner ruled the cause of death as suffocation, suicide. Alachua County deputies were told a suicide note was found in the car.
Police said Nicholson, of Melrose, Fla., got in his car and left the courthouse while awaiting the verdict on a 2002 charge of sexual battery of a minor. He called his attorney to say he wasn't coming back.
After Nicholson's disappearance, the jury found Nicholson guilty of two counts of sexual battery of a minor and one count of sexual battery on a child under 12. ..more.. by News4
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
St. Mary's Georgia: The car parked by itself at the Georgia Welcome Station caused a police officer to run a check and find a man (Gary Nicholson) dead inside who had just been convicted in Florida of sexually battery on children. ..video.. by WJXT
Molest suspect shoots himself
Article Tags
.Indiana,
2007,
Age 24-36,
by Gunshot,
Suicide/s US - of SOs Accused
Commits suicide as police close in
10-18-2007 Indiana
A man accused of molesting a 10-year-old girl over nearly four years shot himself in the head late Tuesday or early Wednesday as police tried to arrest him, police said.
Najae Bland, 27, was pronounced dead at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday after being taken to Parkview Hospital in critical condition.
He was found suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head about 1:30 a.m. by Allen County Sheriff’s Department officers trying to serve him a warrant at a house in the 2800 block of Chestnut Street.
His death was ruled a suicide, Allen County Coroner E. Jon Brandenberger said.
The sheriff’s department arrived at the home about 9:45 p.m. Tuesday to arrest Bland, but no one came to the door, spokesman Steve Stone said.
Officers could hear people inside the house and had information that Bland might have guns, so the Allen County SWAT team was called, Stone said.
SWAT team members entered the home about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday and found Bland with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Police believe Bland shot himself while they were preparing to go inside the home.
The warrant, which charged Bland with six counts of child molesting, was filed by the Allen County Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday.
According to court documents, Bland’s wife found him with a 10-year-old girl on Oct. 4.
The woman had the girl leave the room and ordered Bland out of the house. He tried to talk to his wife, saying “I’m sorry” several times, court documents said. His wife then went outside, gave a friend her cell phone and had the friend call police, the documents said.
Bland left the house before officers arrived, court documents said.
When the girl was interviewed, she told police Bland made her perform sex acts on him and had sex with her on several occasions between January 2003 and October 2007, court documents said.
Bland was sentenced in November 2004 to three years’ probation with six months’ home detention for making false statements on federal forms to acquire a firearm.
According to records, he bought two guns from a sporting goods store in Angola in July 2003 indicating the guns were for him, although he was buying them for another person. He also admitted buying six guns in July 2002.
The case that ended in his death remains under investigation by the sheriff’s department, the prosecutor’s office, the coroner’s office and the Indiana State Police. ..more.. by Megan Hubartt, The Journal Gazette
10-18-2007 Indiana
A man accused of molesting a 10-year-old girl over nearly four years shot himself in the head late Tuesday or early Wednesday as police tried to arrest him, police said.
Najae Bland, 27, was pronounced dead at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday after being taken to Parkview Hospital in critical condition.
He was found suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head about 1:30 a.m. by Allen County Sheriff’s Department officers trying to serve him a warrant at a house in the 2800 block of Chestnut Street.
His death was ruled a suicide, Allen County Coroner E. Jon Brandenberger said.
The sheriff’s department arrived at the home about 9:45 p.m. Tuesday to arrest Bland, but no one came to the door, spokesman Steve Stone said.
Officers could hear people inside the house and had information that Bland might have guns, so the Allen County SWAT team was called, Stone said.
SWAT team members entered the home about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday and found Bland with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Police believe Bland shot himself while they were preparing to go inside the home.
The warrant, which charged Bland with six counts of child molesting, was filed by the Allen County Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday.
According to court documents, Bland’s wife found him with a 10-year-old girl on Oct. 4.
The woman had the girl leave the room and ordered Bland out of the house. He tried to talk to his wife, saying “I’m sorry” several times, court documents said. His wife then went outside, gave a friend her cell phone and had the friend call police, the documents said.
Bland left the house before officers arrived, court documents said.
When the girl was interviewed, she told police Bland made her perform sex acts on him and had sex with her on several occasions between January 2003 and October 2007, court documents said.
Bland was sentenced in November 2004 to three years’ probation with six months’ home detention for making false statements on federal forms to acquire a firearm.
According to records, he bought two guns from a sporting goods store in Angola in July 2003 indicating the guns were for him, although he was buying them for another person. He also admitted buying six guns in July 2002.
The case that ended in his death remains under investigation by the sheriff’s department, the prosecutor’s office, the coroner’s office and the Indiana State Police. ..more.. by Megan Hubartt, The Journal Gazette
Accused Kane candidate dies in crash
Article Tags
.Florida,
2007,
Age 24-36,
by Driving car into bridge,
Suicide/s US - of SOs Accused
10-17-2007 Florida:
A Kane County Board candidate arrested last week on sexual assault charges died Tuesday when his vehicle slammed head-on into a concrete bridge support, Aurora police said.
Brent K. Schepp, 36, a father of four from Aurora, was traveling at "a very high rate of speed" on Eola Road and did not try to brake or take any evasive action, said Dan Ferrelli, police spokesman.
"At this point in the investigation, we believe this to be self-inflicted," Ferrelli said, adding that the coroner and an inquest will determine the cause of death.
Schepp was seeking the board's District 3 seat, but his first bid for office quickly unraveled with the announcement Friday of charges that he sexually abused and assaulted two teenage girls in 2005. The Kane County Republican Central Committee withdrew its endorsement of his candidacy that afternoon.
Police said Schepp was speeding south in his 2006 Dodge Charger on Eola Road between Molitor and Diehl Roads about 10:35 Tuesday morning when the car hit the bridge support. The force of the crash tore the gray vehicle into pieces and threw Schepp 50 feet and under a heavy piece of wreckage. The car caught fire upon impact.
Two passers-by rushed to free Schepp, but he died at the scene, police said.
The violent death Tuesday layered shock upon shock in his quiet upscale community, where neighbors and political supporters were still coming to grips with the sexual assault allegations. "I feel sorry for him, his family and everybody concerned, obviously," said Dennis Wiggins, chairman of the Kane County Republican Organization.
Schepp had been under investigation for two months. He was charged with 14 counts of criminal sexual assault, 10 counts of criminal sexual abuse and two counts of unlawful delivery of alcohol to a minor.
Kane County State's Atty. John Barsanti said the abuse occurred last year between June and December and involved two girls, now 15 and 16, whom Schepp knew.
Schepp had turned himself in Friday and was free on $75,000 bail. He was facing a minimum sentence of 34 years in prison if convicted.
Authorities were trying to tell the teens of Schepp's death Tuesday and that the case was closed, Barsanti said.
"If the defendant is deceased, the case is dismissed," he said.
Schepp, a civil engineer, had been involved in behind-the-scenes Republican politics for many years but had never pursued political office. A lifelong Aurora resident, he was among a group of community activists who pushed to reduce building density in older neighborhoods. Schepp was a precinct committeeman and a member of the party's Central Committee from Aurora Township.
He was touted for his professional background, which the Kane County Republican Central Committee said could help in future developments and capital projects, according to a ballot of recommendations posted on the committee's Web site. After Schepp's arrest, the committee rescinded its recommendation, saying in a written statement that "our party cannot endorse a candidate in the upcoming elections who is currently under a cloud of suspicion for such alleged conduct." In interviews after the allegations became public, at least one local party official urged Schepp to step out of the race, but as of Tuesday, he had not withdrawn, officials said.
"It obviously had taken a toll," Wiggins said. " This is a terrible tragedy, and all we can do is pray for the guy and his family."
After expressing her regrets last week upon learning of Schepp's arrest, his Democratic opponent, Arlene Shoemaker of Aurora, said she was deeply saddened at the news of his death. She lives near the Schepp family and knows them, she said.
"It just makes you feel so sad ... when somebody who has so much talent and is so smart and has so much potential just does himself in," said Shoemaker, a former County Board member who came out of retirement to run for the seat being vacated by Ken Griffin.
Nobody answered the door at Schepp's two-story white home in the 400 block of Linden Avenue in south Aurora, where two vehicles were in the driveway Tuesday afternoon.
But neighbors expressed sadness and shock.
"He was a wonderful neighbor, very helpful," said Pat Carroll. "He often played with my grandkids in their front yard."
Neighbor Sue Klimacek knew the Schepps for the last decade, and recalled how Brent Schepp was quick to lend tools when needed.
"I feel terribly bad for his wife and boys," Klimacek said. "He was a family man." ..more.. by William Presecky and Angela Rozas, Tribune staff reporters
A Kane County Board candidate arrested last week on sexual assault charges died Tuesday when his vehicle slammed head-on into a concrete bridge support, Aurora police said.
Brent K. Schepp, 36, a father of four from Aurora, was traveling at "a very high rate of speed" on Eola Road and did not try to brake or take any evasive action, said Dan Ferrelli, police spokesman.
"At this point in the investigation, we believe this to be self-inflicted," Ferrelli said, adding that the coroner and an inquest will determine the cause of death.
Schepp was seeking the board's District 3 seat, but his first bid for office quickly unraveled with the announcement Friday of charges that he sexually abused and assaulted two teenage girls in 2005. The Kane County Republican Central Committee withdrew its endorsement of his candidacy that afternoon.
Police said Schepp was speeding south in his 2006 Dodge Charger on Eola Road between Molitor and Diehl Roads about 10:35 Tuesday morning when the car hit the bridge support. The force of the crash tore the gray vehicle into pieces and threw Schepp 50 feet and under a heavy piece of wreckage. The car caught fire upon impact.
Two passers-by rushed to free Schepp, but he died at the scene, police said.
The violent death Tuesday layered shock upon shock in his quiet upscale community, where neighbors and political supporters were still coming to grips with the sexual assault allegations. "I feel sorry for him, his family and everybody concerned, obviously," said Dennis Wiggins, chairman of the Kane County Republican Organization.
Schepp had been under investigation for two months. He was charged with 14 counts of criminal sexual assault, 10 counts of criminal sexual abuse and two counts of unlawful delivery of alcohol to a minor.
Kane County State's Atty. John Barsanti said the abuse occurred last year between June and December and involved two girls, now 15 and 16, whom Schepp knew.
Schepp had turned himself in Friday and was free on $75,000 bail. He was facing a minimum sentence of 34 years in prison if convicted.
Authorities were trying to tell the teens of Schepp's death Tuesday and that the case was closed, Barsanti said.
"If the defendant is deceased, the case is dismissed," he said.
Schepp, a civil engineer, had been involved in behind-the-scenes Republican politics for many years but had never pursued political office. A lifelong Aurora resident, he was among a group of community activists who pushed to reduce building density in older neighborhoods. Schepp was a precinct committeeman and a member of the party's Central Committee from Aurora Township.
He was touted for his professional background, which the Kane County Republican Central Committee said could help in future developments and capital projects, according to a ballot of recommendations posted on the committee's Web site. After Schepp's arrest, the committee rescinded its recommendation, saying in a written statement that "our party cannot endorse a candidate in the upcoming elections who is currently under a cloud of suspicion for such alleged conduct." In interviews after the allegations became public, at least one local party official urged Schepp to step out of the race, but as of Tuesday, he had not withdrawn, officials said.
"It obviously had taken a toll," Wiggins said. " This is a terrible tragedy, and all we can do is pray for the guy and his family."
After expressing her regrets last week upon learning of Schepp's arrest, his Democratic opponent, Arlene Shoemaker of Aurora, said she was deeply saddened at the news of his death. She lives near the Schepp family and knows them, she said.
"It just makes you feel so sad ... when somebody who has so much talent and is so smart and has so much potential just does himself in," said Shoemaker, a former County Board member who came out of retirement to run for the seat being vacated by Ken Griffin.
Nobody answered the door at Schepp's two-story white home in the 400 block of Linden Avenue in south Aurora, where two vehicles were in the driveway Tuesday afternoon.
But neighbors expressed sadness and shock.
"He was a wonderful neighbor, very helpful," said Pat Carroll. "He often played with my grandkids in their front yard."
Neighbor Sue Klimacek knew the Schepps for the last decade, and recalled how Brent Schepp was quick to lend tools when needed.
"I feel terribly bad for his wife and boys," Klimacek said. "He was a family man." ..more.. by William Presecky and Angela Rozas, Tribune staff reporters
Autopsy: Prosecutor Accused In Sex Sting Hung Himself From Shower
10-5-2007 Michigan:
MILAN, Mich. -- Autopsy results said a federal prosecutor accused of flying to Michigan to have sex with a 5-year-old girl committed suicide in prison by hanging himself from a shower head with a bed sheet on Friday morning.
The Washtenaw County medical examiner said they found no other injuries or diseases that would have caused the death of Assistant U.S. Attorney John D.R. Atchison, of Gulf Breeze, Fla.
Atchison, 53, was put on suicide watch after he used a bed sheet in an attempted suicide in September.
Atchison had been communicating with an undercover sheriff's detective from Macomb County, Mich., who was posing online as the fictitious girl's mother and arranged for him to have sex with the child, police said.
He was arrested carrying presents for her, including a doll and earrings, and sexual materials, officials said.
Atchison was a married father of three and a respected figure who coached girls' softball and basketball in a park a few blocks from his home in this well-to-do beach community.
"There were no red flags. He was normal. He went to work at the courthouse Monday through Friday. It's not like he carried dolls to the ballpark," said police Lt. Rick Hawthorne, who knew Atchison for more than 10 years and coached softball.
In the community that once applauded Atchison for his dedication to youth sports, people now worry that the assistant U.S. attorney might have held other secrets. But authorities have so far found no cases of child molestation in Florida involving Atchison.
The Pensacola mayor has tried to reassure parents and other residents alarmed by Atchison's arrest. "There was nothing involving local children and there should be no implication that there is," he said.
As a federal prosecutor, Atchison mostly worked on tax and financial crime cases. According to court records, it appears he never prosecuted child sex abuse cases.
Atchison's attorney, James C. Thomas, released a statement Friday: “We are deeply saddened to learn the death of John Roy Atchison. Our heartfelt regrets go out to his wife and children, his parents and his brothers and sisters. This is a man who has done a lot of good in his life. Unfortunately, he is going to be judged by his most recent charges and what we have read in the media, and not by the goodness, hard work or by the love of his family. I expect to be filing a Suggestion of Death and will request the federal judge to dismiss the case once I receive the necessary documents.”
Atchison was charged with three felonies, the most serious of which is crossing state lines with intent to have sex with someone younger than 12. Conviction carries a minimum 30-year prison sentence and a maximum of life. ..more.. by Click on Detroit
MILAN, Mich. -- Autopsy results said a federal prosecutor accused of flying to Michigan to have sex with a 5-year-old girl committed suicide in prison by hanging himself from a shower head with a bed sheet on Friday morning.
The Washtenaw County medical examiner said they found no other injuries or diseases that would have caused the death of Assistant U.S. Attorney John D.R. Atchison, of Gulf Breeze, Fla.
Atchison, 53, was put on suicide watch after he used a bed sheet in an attempted suicide in September.
Atchison had been communicating with an undercover sheriff's detective from Macomb County, Mich., who was posing online as the fictitious girl's mother and arranged for him to have sex with the child, police said.
He was arrested carrying presents for her, including a doll and earrings, and sexual materials, officials said.
Atchison was a married father of three and a respected figure who coached girls' softball and basketball in a park a few blocks from his home in this well-to-do beach community.
"There were no red flags. He was normal. He went to work at the courthouse Monday through Friday. It's not like he carried dolls to the ballpark," said police Lt. Rick Hawthorne, who knew Atchison for more than 10 years and coached softball.
In the community that once applauded Atchison for his dedication to youth sports, people now worry that the assistant U.S. attorney might have held other secrets. But authorities have so far found no cases of child molestation in Florida involving Atchison.
The Pensacola mayor has tried to reassure parents and other residents alarmed by Atchison's arrest. "There was nothing involving local children and there should be no implication that there is," he said.
As a federal prosecutor, Atchison mostly worked on tax and financial crime cases. According to court records, it appears he never prosecuted child sex abuse cases.
Atchison's attorney, James C. Thomas, released a statement Friday: “We are deeply saddened to learn the death of John Roy Atchison. Our heartfelt regrets go out to his wife and children, his parents and his brothers and sisters. This is a man who has done a lot of good in his life. Unfortunately, he is going to be judged by his most recent charges and what we have read in the media, and not by the goodness, hard work or by the love of his family. I expect to be filing a Suggestion of Death and will request the federal judge to dismiss the case once I receive the necessary documents.”
Atchison was charged with three felonies, the most serious of which is crossing state lines with intent to have sex with someone younger than 12. Conviction carries a minimum 30-year prison sentence and a maximum of life. ..more.. by Click on Detroit
Ex-deputy faced sex charges before death
Article Tags
.Michigan,
2007,
Age 37-48,
by Unknown Cause,
Suicide/s US - of SOs Accused
9-6-2007 Michigan:
GAYLORD -- A former Otsego County sheriff's deputy committed suicide after authorities decided to charge him with sex crimes for alleged incidents with minor girls.
Philip Wayne VanDyke, 43, died at his home last week just before his arrest on one count of accosting children for immoral purposes and three counts of criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree, involving victims between the ages of 13 and 16.
The charges involved alleged illegal touching and kissing, but not sexual penetration.
Warrant information was sealed Aug. 28 following VanDyke's death, but 46th Circuit Judge Michael Cooper on Wednesday decided to open the records.
VanDyke's attorney, Joe Kwiatkowski, asked Cooper -- unsuccessfully -- to bar media from Wednesday's hearing. Case information should not be revealed, he argued, because the criminal allegations could not be settled because of VanDyke's death.
He also urged Cooper to seal the case to protect the privacy of both the accusers and VanDyke's family.
"His presumption of innocence was intact and will remain that way forever," Kwiatkowski said.
Cooper disagreed.
"I certainly understand the loss and the grieving, but I have to balance that with the public's right to know. The court cannot in these circumstances seal the records," Cooper said.
Some VanDyke family members reacted emotionally to the ruling and quickly left the courtroom.
"Obviously, they're not happy because their position is an allegation was made that was totally false," Kwiatkowski said.
He filed a motion for an immediate stay to Cooper's decision, and a hearing is set for today.
The Record-Eagle obtained police reports on the case from Otsego County Prosecutor Kyle Legel following Wednesday's hearing. The documents detail allegations against VanDyke and were obtained through the state Freedom of Information Act.
"I hope everyone remembers that he is presumed innocent. We don't have a 100 percent conviction rate, but we wouldn't have brought the charges without probable cause," Legel said.
VanDyke was accused of making a sexual proposition to a 15-year-old Otsego County girl over the Internet while still in Iraq, according to Michigan State Police reports.
He also was accused of inappropriate sexual contact with the girl and another minor girl during intermittent return trips to the United States since summer 2006.
The alleged incidents occurred between July 2006 and June this year during hunting, fishing and boating trips in northern Michigan, the report says.
The alleged crimes were reported to the Michigan State Police on Aug. 6.
VanDyke resigned in March 2005 from his 15-year career as a deputy in Otsego County to take a job with a private security contractor in Iraq. ..more.. by SHERI McWHIRTER
GAYLORD -- A former Otsego County sheriff's deputy committed suicide after authorities decided to charge him with sex crimes for alleged incidents with minor girls.
Philip Wayne VanDyke, 43, died at his home last week just before his arrest on one count of accosting children for immoral purposes and three counts of criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree, involving victims between the ages of 13 and 16.
The charges involved alleged illegal touching and kissing, but not sexual penetration.
Warrant information was sealed Aug. 28 following VanDyke's death, but 46th Circuit Judge Michael Cooper on Wednesday decided to open the records.
VanDyke's attorney, Joe Kwiatkowski, asked Cooper -- unsuccessfully -- to bar media from Wednesday's hearing. Case information should not be revealed, he argued, because the criminal allegations could not be settled because of VanDyke's death.
He also urged Cooper to seal the case to protect the privacy of both the accusers and VanDyke's family.
"His presumption of innocence was intact and will remain that way forever," Kwiatkowski said.
Cooper disagreed.
"I certainly understand the loss and the grieving, but I have to balance that with the public's right to know. The court cannot in these circumstances seal the records," Cooper said.
Some VanDyke family members reacted emotionally to the ruling and quickly left the courtroom.
"Obviously, they're not happy because their position is an allegation was made that was totally false," Kwiatkowski said.
He filed a motion for an immediate stay to Cooper's decision, and a hearing is set for today.
The Record-Eagle obtained police reports on the case from Otsego County Prosecutor Kyle Legel following Wednesday's hearing. The documents detail allegations against VanDyke and were obtained through the state Freedom of Information Act.
"I hope everyone remembers that he is presumed innocent. We don't have a 100 percent conviction rate, but we wouldn't have brought the charges without probable cause," Legel said.
VanDyke was accused of making a sexual proposition to a 15-year-old Otsego County girl over the Internet while still in Iraq, according to Michigan State Police reports.
He also was accused of inappropriate sexual contact with the girl and another minor girl during intermittent return trips to the United States since summer 2006.
The alleged incidents occurred between July 2006 and June this year during hunting, fishing and boating trips in northern Michigan, the report says.
The alleged crimes were reported to the Michigan State Police on Aug. 6.
VanDyke resigned in March 2005 from his 15-year career as a deputy in Otsego County to take a job with a private security contractor in Iraq. ..more.. by SHERI McWHIRTER
Drug counselor facing sex charges hangs himself in jail
Article Tags
.New Jersey,
2007,
Age-P 49-59,
by Hanging,
in Jail - US,
Suicide/s US - of SOs Accused
10-13-2007 New Jersey:
A Barnegat drug counselor charged earlier this week with sexually assaulting two of his clients hung himself in his cell this morning in the Ocean County Jail, authorities said.
Gregory Donnell, 52, of Little Egg Harbor, was found at 2:37 a.m. crouched on the floor with a cloth around his neck tied to a bar on his window grate, according to a release from jail Warden Theodore Hutler. Corrections officers performed CPR on him until jail medical staff arrived. Donnell was rushed to Monmouth County Medical Center in Long Branch where he was pronounced dead at 3:07 a.m.
Hutler and Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford said an autopsy performed this evening by county medical examiner Hydow Park listed the cause of death as asphyxia due to hanging and classified the death a suicide.
Donnell was charged Tuesday with two counts of sexual assault relating to his position as substance abuse counselor at Preferred Behavioral Health in Barnegat.
Authorities said that on at least two occasions Donnell substituted the urine samples of two of his clients for ones that would pass drug tests. In exchange, he received sexual favors from the women, authorities said.
Both alleged victims were in their 30s. One assault allegedly occurred Feb. 1, 2006, and the other was June 1. He was being held on $200,000 bail. ..more.. by MaryAnn Spoto
A Barnegat drug counselor charged earlier this week with sexually assaulting two of his clients hung himself in his cell this morning in the Ocean County Jail, authorities said.
Gregory Donnell, 52, of Little Egg Harbor, was found at 2:37 a.m. crouched on the floor with a cloth around his neck tied to a bar on his window grate, according to a release from jail Warden Theodore Hutler. Corrections officers performed CPR on him until jail medical staff arrived. Donnell was rushed to Monmouth County Medical Center in Long Branch where he was pronounced dead at 3:07 a.m.
Hutler and Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford said an autopsy performed this evening by county medical examiner Hydow Park listed the cause of death as asphyxia due to hanging and classified the death a suicide.
Donnell was charged Tuesday with two counts of sexual assault relating to his position as substance abuse counselor at Preferred Behavioral Health in Barnegat.
Authorities said that on at least two occasions Donnell substituted the urine samples of two of his clients for ones that would pass drug tests. In exchange, he received sexual favors from the women, authorities said.
Both alleged victims were in their 30s. One assault allegedly occurred Feb. 1, 2006, and the other was June 1. He was being held on $200,000 bail. ..more.. by MaryAnn Spoto
Suspect in child sex assault commits suicide
Article Tags
.Nebraska,
2007,
Age 49-59,
by Gunshot,
Suicide/s US - of RSOs Accused
10-8-2007 Nebraska
LINCOLN (AP) - A clerk listed as a suspect in a child sex assault shot himself in the back room of a store after giving a police officer the store surveillance tape that may have shown the assault.
Lincoln police say Glen Sutton, 53, of Bennet was not under arrest and had not yet been contacted as a suspect.
Sutton is listed on the Nebraska State Patrol Sex Offender Registry as a Level 3 offender — one of the offenders judged by authorities as most likely to reoffend. He had been convicted in 1993 of two counts of first-degree sexual assault in Dodge County.
On Monday, Lincoln police spokeswoman Katherine Finnell gave this account of what happened Saturday at a convenience store in northwest Lincoln:
A 10-year-old boy told his mother about being molested Saturday afternoon at the store. She contacted the police, and an investigator was assigned the case.
Another officer who went to the store had been a state corrections officer. He recognized Sutton and knew he was a registered sex offender.
So the officer made some small talk and asked Sutton for the surveillance tape of that day. Sutton went in back, got the tape and brought it out to the officer.
After the officer went outside to call the investigative officer, Sutton went in the back and shot himself.
A friend of Sutton who was in the store didn't hear the gunshot, but when he went to find his friend to help a customer at the counter, the friend found Sutton's body.
An incident report filed Saturday night before the suicide listed Sutton as a "PR" — person responsible. The boy had told the investigator that Sutton had molested him, but Finnell said the investigator had not yet told the officer at the store that Sutton was the primary suspect. ..more.. by Omaha World Hearld
Level 3 Sex Offender Commits Suicide
10-10-2007 Nebraska
A Level-3 sex offender is dead after he shot himself at the Lincoln convenience store where he worked.
It happened Sunday night, when police showed up at the store to get surveillance tapes that may have shown the alleged incident, which involved a 10-year-old boy.
The boy reported the alleged sexual assault to police on Sunday afternoon.
About 10:30 Sunday night, a Lincoln police officer went to the Kabredlos on West Cornhusker to get the store's video surveillance tapes.
The clerk on duty was 53-year-old Glen Edward Sutton. Investigators said after the officer picked up the videotapes, Sutton went to a room in the back of the store and shot himself.
The police officer was still in the parking lot and heard the gunshot.
Tom Casady, Lincoln police chief, said, “He had no inkling the suspect would actually be the person he talked to, and got assistance from in retrieving the tape. The officer did not mention why he needed the tape or anything about the sex assault at all.”
In 1993,Sutton was convicted of two counts of first-degree sexual assault. He was labeled a Level-3 sex offender, which means he was likely to re-offend. ..more.. by KETV.com
LINCOLN (AP) - A clerk listed as a suspect in a child sex assault shot himself in the back room of a store after giving a police officer the store surveillance tape that may have shown the assault.
Lincoln police say Glen Sutton, 53, of Bennet was not under arrest and had not yet been contacted as a suspect.
Sutton is listed on the Nebraska State Patrol Sex Offender Registry as a Level 3 offender — one of the offenders judged by authorities as most likely to reoffend. He had been convicted in 1993 of two counts of first-degree sexual assault in Dodge County.
On Monday, Lincoln police spokeswoman Katherine Finnell gave this account of what happened Saturday at a convenience store in northwest Lincoln:
A 10-year-old boy told his mother about being molested Saturday afternoon at the store. She contacted the police, and an investigator was assigned the case.
Another officer who went to the store had been a state corrections officer. He recognized Sutton and knew he was a registered sex offender.
So the officer made some small talk and asked Sutton for the surveillance tape of that day. Sutton went in back, got the tape and brought it out to the officer.
After the officer went outside to call the investigative officer, Sutton went in the back and shot himself.
A friend of Sutton who was in the store didn't hear the gunshot, but when he went to find his friend to help a customer at the counter, the friend found Sutton's body.
An incident report filed Saturday night before the suicide listed Sutton as a "PR" — person responsible. The boy had told the investigator that Sutton had molested him, but Finnell said the investigator had not yet told the officer at the store that Sutton was the primary suspect. ..more.. by Omaha World Hearld
Level 3 Sex Offender Commits Suicide
10-10-2007 Nebraska
A Level-3 sex offender is dead after he shot himself at the Lincoln convenience store where he worked.
It happened Sunday night, when police showed up at the store to get surveillance tapes that may have shown the alleged incident, which involved a 10-year-old boy.
The boy reported the alleged sexual assault to police on Sunday afternoon.
About 10:30 Sunday night, a Lincoln police officer went to the Kabredlos on West Cornhusker to get the store's video surveillance tapes.
The clerk on duty was 53-year-old Glen Edward Sutton. Investigators said after the officer picked up the videotapes, Sutton went to a room in the back of the store and shot himself.
The police officer was still in the parking lot and heard the gunshot.
Tom Casady, Lincoln police chief, said, “He had no inkling the suspect would actually be the person he talked to, and got assistance from in retrieving the tape. The officer did not mention why he needed the tape or anything about the sex assault at all.”
In 1993,Sutton was convicted of two counts of first-degree sexual assault. He was labeled a Level-3 sex offender, which means he was likely to re-offend. ..more.. by KETV.com
Man found hanged at Mayer home
Article Tags
.California,
2007,
Age 49-59,
by Hanging,
Suicide/s US - of SOs Accused
Identity of apparent suicide victim not confirmed
10-4-2007 California:
A middle-aged man was found hanging Wednesday from a rope attached to an oak tree in the backyard of the upscale home of former Redding Bank of Commerce CEO Michael Mayer.
But Redding police would not confirm that the victim was the 51-year-old former bank executive charged with molesting a 16-year-old girl in August.
The man's identity won't be released until relatives are notified, said Redding police Capt. Peter Hansen.
No one else was home at the time of the apparent suicide, Hansen said.
Flanked by newspaper, radio and television reporters, Hansen said police went to Mayer's La Rinconada Place home about 4:30 p.m. after a neighbor reported seeing someone hanging from the tree inside the wrought-iron fence enclosing the backyard.
Speaking from Mayer's manicured front yard, Hansen said it appeared that the man's death was a suicide. He declined to say if a suicide note had been left and said that the case has been turned over to the Shasta County coroner's office.
Most of those who live on the street in Mayer's quiet and heavily treed neighborhood stayed indoors as police investigated the hanging, and those who did briefly venture outside politely declined to talk to reporters.
Mayer was arrested Aug. 19 after a 16-year-old family friend told police that Mayer had sexually assaulted her at the house where the body was found Wednesday.
Eight days later, Redding Bank of Commerce fired him from its top job, which last year paid him $455,000 in salary, benefits and other compensation.
When he was arrested, police reported that the 16-year-old girl had told them that Mayer massaged her shoulders and back in a darkened family room where Mayer's daughter and niece were lying on the floor watching television.
She also told police she was "not sure what to do" when the massage allegedly went too far and Mayer fondled her breasts and groin, the police report said.
Mayer's wife told police that her husband, who had been drinking heavily that day, "lost it" after being confronted by the alleged molestation, and that he had threatened to kill himself, the report said.
Charged with two counts of felony sexual penetration and misdemeanor counts of annoying a child, sexual battery and indecent exposure, Mayer was released from jail on $100,000 bail.
The court also ordered him not to drink or to have firearms, and to stay away from female minors unless a responsible adult was present.
Mayer's last Superior Court appearance was on Sept. 17 when Judge William Gallagher agreed to hear the case after two other judges recused themselves. ..more.. by Reporter Jim Schultz can be reached at 225-8223 or at jschultz@redding.com
CA Bank CEO Facing Molest Charge Commits Suicide
10-4-2007 California:
REDDING (AP) ― The former chief executive of Redding's Bank of Commerce Holdings committed suicide while awaiting trial for allegedly molesting a teenage family friend, the Shasta County coroner's office said Thursday.
Police found the body of Michael Charles Mayer hanging from an oak tree inside the wrought-iron fence surrounding his neatly manicured Redding home on Wednesday afternoon. He was 51.
Shasta County Deputy Coroner Lisa Green said Mayer's death was ruled a suicide.
Mayer had served as the bank holding company's chief executive officer since 2001 and rang the Nasdaq Stock Market's closing bell in New York in 2005. His salary and compensation last year totaled $455,000.
Mayer was arrested on Aug. 19 after someone at his home called 911 at 3 a.m.
Mayer was charged with two felony counts of sexual assault on a 16-year-old girl as well misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure, annoying a child and sexual battery. He pleaded not guilty and was released on $100,000 bail.
The bank fired Mayer eight days after he was charged.
According to The Redding Record Searchlight, the police report said the girl reported that Mayer had massaged her back and shoulders and then went too far as she and Mayer's daughter and niece watched television in a darkened room.
The Searchlight also quoted the police report saying Mayer's wife had told officers her husband had been drinking heavily the night of the alleged assault and that he threatened to kill himself when confronted with the allegations.
..News Source.. by CBS5.com
10-4-2007 California:
A middle-aged man was found hanging Wednesday from a rope attached to an oak tree in the backyard of the upscale home of former Redding Bank of Commerce CEO Michael Mayer.
But Redding police would not confirm that the victim was the 51-year-old former bank executive charged with molesting a 16-year-old girl in August.
The man's identity won't be released until relatives are notified, said Redding police Capt. Peter Hansen.
No one else was home at the time of the apparent suicide, Hansen said.
Flanked by newspaper, radio and television reporters, Hansen said police went to Mayer's La Rinconada Place home about 4:30 p.m. after a neighbor reported seeing someone hanging from the tree inside the wrought-iron fence enclosing the backyard.
Speaking from Mayer's manicured front yard, Hansen said it appeared that the man's death was a suicide. He declined to say if a suicide note had been left and said that the case has been turned over to the Shasta County coroner's office.
Most of those who live on the street in Mayer's quiet and heavily treed neighborhood stayed indoors as police investigated the hanging, and those who did briefly venture outside politely declined to talk to reporters.
Mayer was arrested Aug. 19 after a 16-year-old family friend told police that Mayer had sexually assaulted her at the house where the body was found Wednesday.
Eight days later, Redding Bank of Commerce fired him from its top job, which last year paid him $455,000 in salary, benefits and other compensation.
When he was arrested, police reported that the 16-year-old girl had told them that Mayer massaged her shoulders and back in a darkened family room where Mayer's daughter and niece were lying on the floor watching television.
She also told police she was "not sure what to do" when the massage allegedly went too far and Mayer fondled her breasts and groin, the police report said.
Mayer's wife told police that her husband, who had been drinking heavily that day, "lost it" after being confronted by the alleged molestation, and that he had threatened to kill himself, the report said.
Charged with two counts of felony sexual penetration and misdemeanor counts of annoying a child, sexual battery and indecent exposure, Mayer was released from jail on $100,000 bail.
The court also ordered him not to drink or to have firearms, and to stay away from female minors unless a responsible adult was present.
Mayer's last Superior Court appearance was on Sept. 17 when Judge William Gallagher agreed to hear the case after two other judges recused themselves. ..more.. by Reporter Jim Schultz can be reached at 225-8223 or at jschultz@redding.com
CA Bank CEO Facing Molest Charge Commits Suicide
10-4-2007 California:
REDDING (AP) ― The former chief executive of Redding's Bank of Commerce Holdings committed suicide while awaiting trial for allegedly molesting a teenage family friend, the Shasta County coroner's office said Thursday.
Police found the body of Michael Charles Mayer hanging from an oak tree inside the wrought-iron fence surrounding his neatly manicured Redding home on Wednesday afternoon. He was 51.
Shasta County Deputy Coroner Lisa Green said Mayer's death was ruled a suicide.
Mayer had served as the bank holding company's chief executive officer since 2001 and rang the Nasdaq Stock Market's closing bell in New York in 2005. His salary and compensation last year totaled $455,000.
Mayer was arrested on Aug. 19 after someone at his home called 911 at 3 a.m.
Mayer was charged with two felony counts of sexual assault on a 16-year-old girl as well misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure, annoying a child and sexual battery. He pleaded not guilty and was released on $100,000 bail.
The bank fired Mayer eight days after he was charged.
According to The Redding Record Searchlight, the police report said the girl reported that Mayer had massaged her back and shoulders and then went too far as she and Mayer's daughter and niece watched television in a darkened room.
The Searchlight also quoted the police report saying Mayer's wife had told officers her husband had been drinking heavily the night of the alleged assault and that he threatened to kill himself when confronted with the allegations.
..News Source.. by CBS5.com
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