UK- Lorry cab tragedy: Sex abuse probe

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FL- Man Commits Suicide But Found Not Guilty for Sex Crime

Another sign of the pressures those facing these types of charges. Many need help because they are overwhelmed knowing what they will face if convicted.

8-28-2009 Florida:

A rape suspect commits suicide before hearing he was found not guilty.

Thursday afternoon, 57-year-old William Evans was found dead in his St. Augustine home from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

He faced charges for a sexual battery he was accused of committing against a young girl in the early 1980s. The alleged victim is now an adult and pursued the charges with the State Attorney's Office.

Evans was arrested in 2004 and was in a St. Johns County courtroom to hear the verdict today. The judge allowed a recess before the verdict, and during that time, Evans went to his residence in the 100 block of Stokes Landing. Investigators with the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office say Evans committed suicide during that time.

As the judge allowed the verdict to be read, he sent deputies to check on Evans. As they found Evans' body near the balcony of his home, the jury found him not guilty.

The Medical Examiner's will confirm the cause of death. Foul play is not expected, but investigators are not excluding any possible causes. ..Source.. by Tiffany Griffith

TX- Sex assault suspect commits suicide

8-27-2009 Texas:

A man wanted in connection with a sexual assault in Denton County killed himself during a traffic stop in Collin County.


Collin County sheriffÕs deputies identified the man wanted by the Denton Police Department in connection with a sexual assault case who shot and killed himself on U.S. 380 Wednesday morning.

Lt. John Norton of the Collin County SheriffÕs Office identified the deceased suspect as 21-year-old Daniel Ali Kassam of McKinney. An autopsy conducted by the Collin County Medical ExaminerÕs Office confirmed the bodyÕs identity more than seven hours after his death.

Norton said deputies received an alert bulletin from Denton Police about the sexual assault around 7:45 a.m. Wednesday. The alert told deputies they were looking for a man in a black Infiniti regarding a reported sexual assault. Denton Police said the man was heading east on U.S. 380 towards McKinney.

A Collin County sheriff's deputy spotted the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop just east of the Farm-to-Market Road 1461 intersection. The driver of the Infiniti pulled over to the shoulder of the road, produced a weapon, pointed it at the right side of his head and pulled the trigger, Norton said.

Deputies did not make any prior contact to Kassam. Deputies immediately contacted dispatchers and asked them to send an ambulance. Paramedics declared Kassam dead at the scene just a few minutes later, Norton said.

Attempts were made to reach a representative of the Denton Police Department, but no one could be reached by presstime Wednesday. ..Source.. by Danny Gallagher, McKinney Courier-Gazette

NY- Author Jim Tully's Son Joins Wife in Suicide

4-20-1950 New York:

"We can't go on living like this. If I find him, I'll try a suicide pact. He hasn't the guts to do it himself -- he's not fit to live in this world."

The speaker was Mrs. Margaret Tully, 43, a nurse. .... The man referred to was her husband, Thomas A. Tully, 39, son of the late Jim Tully, hobo author.

BODIES IDENTIFIED:

Mrs Tully found her husband. ... Troopers said today after identifying the bodies of two carbon monoxide victims in a car ...

A hose had been led in from the car's exhaust and the windows stuffed with rags. ...

Mrs. Garner described her neighbor as heartbroken because Tully, who had a long record as a sex offender was being sought by Nassau County Police ...

Mrs. Tully had announced to Mrs. Garnier her plan to try to find her husband and persuade him to die in her company. "I',m going to church." Mrs. Tully added. "If I don't come home for dinner tonight, I may never come back.."


Source: Newspaper clipping, Los Angeles Times dated 4-20-1950.

CA- Sex offender commits suicide

11-9-1953 California:

Shigoo Kurlhara, 27, a Japanese prisoner who was serving a sentence at San Quentin as a sex offender, committed suicide in his prison cell yesterday.

Warden Clinton Duffy said Kurlhara slashed his throat with a razor and attempted to strangle himself with a radio cord.


Source: Newspaper clipping, Los Angeles Times dated 11-9-1950.

CA- Molest suspect found dead

Subject: John Alan Seitcher

8-1-2009 California:

Sex offender may have killed himself

Sheriff's deputies are investigating the death of a registered sex offender who was found in a home outside Castroville after his girlfriend reported catching him molesting her 10-year-old daughter Friday.

Sheriff's Cmdr. Mike Richards said it appears the 47-year-old man died of self-inflicted wounds caused by a sharp pointed object. An autopsy is pending.

The Herald is not naming the man because coroner's officials said they were still trying to notify his family Friday.

About 10:30 a.m., the woman called 911 and said she had arrived home and saw her boyfriend molesting her daughter. The woman called police after leaving the house with girl, Richards said.

She indicated the man was threatening to commit suicide.

Deputies responded to the house. After about an hour of trying to make contact, they entered the house and discovered the man dead in the master bathroom.

The man was a registered sex offender who was released from parole in May, Richards said. He had previously been convicted of lewd acts with a child under 14, sexual abuse of a child and indecent exposure, according to the state's Registered Sex Offender Information Web site.

Richards said it was unclear Friday how long the girl's mother was involved with the man or if she was aware of his history.

"There is still an ongoing investigation," he said, and that it was unclear if the girl and her mother were living in the same home as the man.

Deputies said the girl was taken to a Salinas hospital and later released to the custody of her father. ..Source.. by DANIEL LOPEZ, Herald Staff Writer

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Monterey County Coroner's Office Identified Body of Sex Offender in Castroville

8-2-2009 California:

Castroville, Calif- Monterey County Coroner's office has identified the sex offender who died Friday in Crastroville as 46 year old John Alan Seitcher. A postmotem examination will be made August 3rd to determine the cause of death.

Friday, Monterey County Sheriffs surrounded the home of a regisered sex offender at a house on Mira Loma in Castroville this morning.

According to Comander Mike Richards with the Sheriffs department around 10:30 AM, the mom of a 10 year-old comes home to find her boyfiriend on top of her daughter. Her boyfriend was a registered sex offender who was released from parole in May.

The mom took her daughter to another residence and called 911.

When deputies arrived around 11 AM they surrounded the house and asked for the sex offender to come out of the house. There was no response and they entered the house to find him dead.

The neighbors say that a gunshot was heard before the sheriffs department arrived. According to the sheriffs department, though the wounds were fatal, they do not appear to be gunshot wounds.

The victim was transported to the hospital then released to the custody of her father. The Sheriff's Office has no other information indicating there are additional victims in this case. ..Source.. by Fox 35.com

CA- Man Sought as Child Molester

2-7-1953 California:

A man identified as Robert Franklin Rice, 35, wanted by Redondo Beach police for questioning in connection with asserted improper advances made towards a 3-year-old girl Friday night, was found dead in his automobile in Santa Monica early yesterday.

Investigating officers said, ..... died of carbon monoxide poisoning. A hose was found running from the exhaust pipe into the car.

Officers found an unsigned note on the seat which read "To all sex offenders. The world would be better off if we all jumped off a cliff. God forgive me and take care of my wi9fe Lord knows she has suffered enough"

Police said they had been looking for Rice since the parents of a 3-year-old girl complained that he enticed the child into his home Friday night.

Source: Newspaper clipping, Los Angeles Times dated 2-7-1953.

NC- Inmate Charged With Sex Crime Commits Suicide

8-17-2009 North Carolina:

Inmate Dies 2 Days After Suicide Attempt

ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, N.C. -- A Rockingham County inmate arrested last Tuesday died after he tried to hang himself on Wednesday.

Authorities said James Michael Younger, 52, had been charged with indecent liberties with a child.

He was being held on a $1 million bond at the Rockingham County Detention Facility when deputies found him.

Younger was taken to the hospital to be treated, but died Friday evening. ..Source.. by WXII 12.com

FL- Suspect accused of sex crimes found dead on Monday

8-11-2009 Florida:

A Homosassa man accused of sex crimes involving an 8-year-old Hernando County girl was found dead shortly after 9 a.m. on Monday in an apparent suicide.

The Citrus County Sheriff's Office confirmed today that the body of Robert Siebe, 64, of 6989 W. Crossbeck Court, was found hanging from a tree in a wooded area of Homosassa across from the Green Acres subdivision.

Family members reported that Siebe had been depressed since he was charged in the case, and had bonded out of the Citrus County jail, CCSO spokesperson Gail Tierney said. Siebe was charged on Friday in connection with the case, and bond had been set at $39,000.

Citrus Daily had received an e-mail earlier today blaming the media and publicity as contributing to Siebe's death.

The e-mail reads, verbatim:

"CONGRATULATIONS!! You post in Sunday's paper of the Homosassa man and sex crimes on an 8 year old has found him guilty and convicted before he even had a trial. MOREOVER, it has caused him to take his own life because he was INNOCENT!! This truly takes the cake!! Bad publicity, Bad press, that caused GRIEF for everone conserned!!"

It is believed the e-mail was sent by someone at least acquainted with the family. The name of the e-mailer is being withheld by Citrus Daily. ..Source.. by Robby Douglas

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Homosassa man charged with sex crimes involving girl, 8

8-8-2009 Florida:

A 64-year-old Homosassa man has been charged with sex crimes involving an 8-year-old Spring Hill girl.

Arrested on Friday was Robert Siebe, of 6989 W. Crossbeck Court.

The Ciitrus County Sheriff’s Office became involved the case on Monday, after charges had been levied that Siebe had provided harmful and obscene material to a minor, exposed his private parts, encouraged the minor to touch those parts and fondled the minor over her clothing.

During her interview, the young girl described traveling from her home in Hernando County to the Siebe’s Homosassa home. The girl told an investigator about an incident in June shortly after she and her sister had gotten out of the family swimming pool at his home. She said Siebe had taken photos of the children in the pool and she wanted to look at them. When she asked him to show her the pictures he had just taken, he clicked on some different photos, pornographic in nature, on his laptop computer.

Recalling another incident at Siebe’s home, the girl said she was on a computer when Siebe came in and took over the computer controls, going to a YouTube photo that showed an adult male, naked from the waist down.

The girl said the computer showing the pornographic photo of a nude woman was in the living room, and that the photo showing the naked male was in Siebe’s bedroom. Both computers were laptops. She told the investigator she is allowed to use the computer in Siebe’s room as well as one additional desktop computer, located in one of the spare bedrooms.

Describing a third incident, the girl said she was on Siebe’s laptop in his bedroom, when Siebe came into the room and fondled her over her clothing.

The final incident occurred was while she was in her room and playing her video game, the girl said. She said that Siebe had walked in the room in his underwear and a t-shirt. She said Siebe told her to look over at him. When she did, she saw his private parts partially exposed, and that Siebe encouraged her to touch those parts. But, she said, she slapped his hand and tried to leave. She also told the investigator that Siebe's hand held the bedroom door shut while he was rubbing himself on her back. She said that when she reminded him that her sister would be back soon, she was able to get out of the room.

The girl said did not tell anyone about what had occurred during her weeklong stay at the Siebe's home. She said and her sister traveled out of state to visit relatives, coming back to Florida on Aug. 2. Recently, during a conversation with an adult about secrets, the girl said told what had happened to her.

Her 11-year- sister was also interviewed, and told the investigator Siebe had taken several photos of her clothed sister using a backdrop like one would see at a studio. She said she was also present when her younger sister talked about the alleged incidents, and said that the conversation took quite a while, as the victim kept crying and had to stop quite a few times.

Siebe was interviewed on Friday about the allegations. After being read his rights, Siebe denied all of the allegations. He did confirm there were three household computers, one of which is his laptop to which no one but him has the password. He said he was always present when the minor children were using his computer, and that many computer files containing adult pornography were on his computer, but he denied the existence of child pornography.

As a result of the search warrant, the defendant's computer and other computers were seized, as well as additional media storage devices. Siebe was arrested and taken to the county jail, where he was booked on charges of lewd/lascivious molestation of a person under 12, lewd and lascivious exhibition and showing obscene material to a minor.

Bond was set at $39,000. ..Source.. by Robby Douglas

MA- Pound Ridge man who faced teen-rape charges in Mass. kills himself

7-11-2009 Massachusetts:

POUND RIDGE - A former Boy Scout leader from Pound Ridge who had arranged to turn himself in to Massachusetts police on charges he raped a teenage boy killed himself Thursday, officials said.

Dan Bathrick, 56, of 26 Lower Trinity Pass Road was to be charged with rape of a minor and conspiracy to commit rape of a minor by Northfield, Mass., police on July 23 - the date Bathrick's lawyer, Geoffrey Nathan, had arranged for him to surrender. But he sent a suicide note to his family Wednesday, left his vehicle at his office and walked 3 miles south to his home where he killed himself, Nathan said.

He was found suffocated with a plastic bag taped over his face, said the Westchester County medical examiner. Asphyxiation was the cause of death.

"I never saw this coming," said Nathan, whose office is in Boston. "I want it known that he appeared to be a very nice man, and as a lesson, that no one should do what he did. No crime is something to take your life over."

Bathrick was accused of having sex with a teenager who was between the ages of 14 and 15 at the time.

A judge in Greenfield (Mass.) District Court issued the warrant Tuesday charging Bathrick with the two felonies, the court clerk's office said. Northfield police reported the case to the District Attorney's Office on April 6, saying the abuse started about two years ago and that Bathrick, a longtime friend of the victim's family, abused the boy multiple times.

Bathrick's relationship with the family dates back 25 to 30 years, and started through the Boy Scouts, according to a report Northfield police Sgt. Robert Leighton wrote detailing Bathrick's statements to authorities.

Bathrick said he would visit the victim and his family four times a year, even vacationing with them on Cape Cod and taking them on vacation to Disney World in Florida, according to the report. Authorities released the report yesterday, redacting all of the names to protect the identity of the victim and his family.

Bathrick initially said "he never played with (the victim) below the waist line" and "that there was nothing sexual with what he was doing." But later, Bathrick's denials about touching the victim's genitals became less definitive.

"He said, 'Could it have happened, I don't believe it did.' He then said, 'If it did, it was short,'" the report said.

Bathrick also told police that when he was 9 years old, he was abused by his father's now-deceased friend, and had male oral sex on two occasions when he was 12 years old, the report said.

After interviewing him, Leighton walked Bathrick out to the parking lot.

"At this point, Bathrick turned to me and asked how much trouble he was in. I replied, 'How much trouble do you think you're in?' Bathrick said, 'Big time.' He then walked away," Leighton said in the report.

Bathrick, who never married, lived with his mother and sister, appeared to be extremely courteous and ran a successful insurance business, Nathan said. Bathrick's family could not be reached for comment.

Marc Andreo, Scout executive for the Westchester-Putnam Council, Boy Scouts of America, did not return a call seeking comment. His secretary confirmed Bathrick volunteered with the group.

Bathrick also was president of the Pound Ridge Lions Club for four years, ending his term last month. New President Andrew Brodnick would not comment on Bathrick's leadership of the organization or what he called "a tragedy for all involved." The Record Review featured Bathrick last month in an article that said he was to be honored with a past president award, and was chosen to head the local zone, which encompassed the Pound Ridge, Bedford, Bedford Hills and Mount Kisco clubs.

Nathan said he never met Bathrick in person, and communicated with him only by telephone and e-mail. Nathan said it was only in retrospect that he saw Bathrick exhibit telling behavior.

"I was trying to get the client in my office, and he had written communication that was indicative of someone who needed help," Nathan said. "I offered to fly to White Plains and meet with him, but he kept putting me off and saying, 'I don't know what the benefit would be.' "

On Wednesday, Bathrick's distraught sister called Nathan to tell him the family had received a suicide note and was having problems finding Bathrick. Nathan said he contacted police and filed a missing persons report.

The authorities were able to find Bathrick by tracing his cell phone, which he had left on, Nathan said. Bathrick's body was found in a shed on the family property. He had apparently nailed the door shut from inside, authorities said.

Cassidy-Flynn Funeral Home in Mount Kisco is handling arrangements. There are no visiting hours and services are private. ..Source.. by Hoa Nguyen and Shawn Cohen

Prostitute scam led to suicide

7-29-2009 New Zealand:

A woman who was paid for sex and then swindled her 72-year-old Papamoa client out of more than $105,000 has been jailed for three years and four months.

Between March and July 2008, the victim, who committed suicide in February this year, was defrauded of all his life savings by Mary Regina Birch, 46, also of Papamoa, who stole $105,402, including forging and cashing a $85,000 cheque.

In February 2008, Birch was working as a prostitute and provided services to the victim twice.

Not long afterwards, Birch moved into the recently-separated man's home, after telling him she had nowhere to live.

She was given his ATM card and pin number to buy groceries and pay bills. She was also given use of the deceased's car.

Birch also used the ATM card to make unauthorised withdrawals, helped herself to the man's chequebook, forged his signature and cashed two cheques totalling $86,000.

Birch claimed the pair had formed a relationship.

On or about March 21, 2008, when the victim became aware some money was missing from his account and challenged Birch, she told him she was expecting a $30,000 payout from an employment court case and would pay him back.

The victim replaced his bankcard and started locking it, his keys and his wallet away in an electronic safe.

On May 17, Birch wrote out and banked a cheque for $1500 into her account, forging the victim's signature.

Sometime between March and May, despite the victim's objections, Birch's teenage daughter and son and a friend also moved into the house.


Despite several requests by the man for Birch to move out, she refused to budge until he agreed to pay for a removal truck, and pay bond and the first period of rent on her new accommodation.

Just four days after moving out, Birch wrote out another cheque for $85,000, again forging the man's signature, and deposited the money in her bank account.

When police searched Birch's new address on August 13, 2008, they found a $16,000 Mazda car parked on the front lawn, and almost all the contents of the house appeared to be new. Birch, who earlier admitted 48 counts of fraudulently using a document for pecuniary advantage and one of money laundering, appeared before Judge Peter Rollo in Tauranga District Court on Monday.

Crown prosecutor Hayley Booth said Birch's offending had been a significant breach of trust committed against a particularly vulnerable victim who had been reliant on his former wife to manage his financial affairs.

He did not even know how to use an ATM.

There was no doubt Birch's actions had contributed to the victim's decision to take his own life, she said.

Judge Rollo said Birch had used "her sexuality and sympathy" and a position of trust to "manipulate a vulnerable old man".

Judge Rollo said he had no doubt the deceased was devastated and felt shamed when he found out how he had been duped.

"I accept it cannot be said you alone (Birch) can be held accountable for the decision to take his own life, but it is clear your actions were a significant contributor to him taking such a tragic step."

Birch denied she caused the man's suicide, and claimed she did not know why he had taken his own life, the court was told.

Kiwibank would need to pursue the amount owed through a civil suit, given that Birch would serve a significant part of her sentence, the judge. ..Source.. by Sandra Conchie