A man accused of creating what Johnson County authorities described as “some of the worst child pornography” seized in years was found dead early Monday in his cell in the county jail, officials reported.
Jay Thomas Morgan, 50, of Arlington, died at 5:40 a.m., according to the Tarrant County medical examiner’s office, which had not ruled on the cause or manner of death by late Monday.
Johnson County Sheriff Bob Alford said Morgan hanged himself with a T-shirt.
Morgan, who had been in jail since his arrest on July 31, 2012, was awaiting trial on charges of aggravated sexual assault of child/continued abuse of young child. His bail was $500,000.
Alford said Morgan’s trial was set for October.
He had not been on suicide watch, Alford said. “He hadn’t shown any signs at all,” he said.
In addition to an internal county investigation, Alford said, he has requested an outside investigation by Texas Rangers.
Morgan’s co-defendant, Rosalyn Elizabeth Burdett, remains jailed with bail set at $500,000. She is accused of multiple charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child.
Morgan and Burdett are accused of photographing themselves having sex with a 7-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl.
Burdett was informed of Morgan’s suicide and although she seemed all right, authorities placed her on suicide watch, Alford said.
Her trial is expected in October also, he said.
Last August, investigators reported seizing graphic sexual images of adults performing sex acts on children from Burdett’s home and numerous items related to the case from Morgan’s Arlington residence.
The case was investigated by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department, Texas Rangers, Mansfield and Arlington police and CPS. ..Source.. by Susan McFarland
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