6-18-2005 United Kingdom:
A SENIOR teacher flung himself to his death after a girl pupil accused him of sex offences Head of English Dr Michael Kellaway, 60, had been sent home from work less than 48 hours before his body was found. And his wife only learned he was being investigated by police and school authorities after she was told of his death. The allegations were made by a fifth-year pupil.
Dr Kellaway,who had taught at Perth Academy for 24 years, had driven his Jaguar to the entrance of the Forth Road Bridge in Fife and thrown himself to his death. [snip] Audrey, head of a private girls school, said: 'We only found out about the investigation after my husband was found on Saturday morning. 'Michael said nothing and as far as we were concerned everything was normal.
'We have since been told the inquiry had been completed and the case had been closed.' : by James Moncur ..more..
IN- Man misses court, found dead
Article Tags
.Indiana,
2005,
Age 37-48,
by Razor,
Suicide/s US - of SOs Accused
7-7-2005 Indiana:
Brown County police officers, sent to the home of a man who missed a required court date, made a gruesome discovery last week.
The body of David Lee Allen, 39, was found by sheriff’s deputies Rick Followell and Brad Stogsdill in Mr. Allen’s Freeman Ridge Road residence last Wednesday morning, June 29.
Brown County Coroner Earl Piper said Mr. Allen died of self-inflicted lacerations, adding that he may have been dead for several days before being discovered.
According to Sheriff Robert “Buck” Stogsdill, Mr. Allen’s body was badly decomposed. He said the case is still under investigation and that officers are awaiting additional information from the coroner.
Mr. Allen was charged two years ago with child molesting, a Class A felony. He was scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. for a competency hearing to determine his ability to represent himself in the case. When he didn’t show up, Brown Circuit Judge Judith A. Stewart issued a warrant for his arrest.
Officers Stogsdill and Followell made their discovery at around 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Allen also failed to appear at a hearing on Monday, June 20. A warrant was not issued for him at that time because the court was concerned he did not receive proper notice. ..more.. by Rodney Margison Staff writer
Brown County police officers, sent to the home of a man who missed a required court date, made a gruesome discovery last week.
The body of David Lee Allen, 39, was found by sheriff’s deputies Rick Followell and Brad Stogsdill in Mr. Allen’s Freeman Ridge Road residence last Wednesday morning, June 29.
Brown County Coroner Earl Piper said Mr. Allen died of self-inflicted lacerations, adding that he may have been dead for several days before being discovered.
According to Sheriff Robert “Buck” Stogsdill, Mr. Allen’s body was badly decomposed. He said the case is still under investigation and that officers are awaiting additional information from the coroner.
Mr. Allen was charged two years ago with child molesting, a Class A felony. He was scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. for a competency hearing to determine his ability to represent himself in the case. When he didn’t show up, Brown Circuit Judge Judith A. Stewart issued a warrant for his arrest.
Officers Stogsdill and Followell made their discovery at around 10:40 a.m.
Mr. Allen also failed to appear at a hearing on Monday, June 20. A warrant was not issued for him at that time because the court was concerned he did not receive proper notice. ..more.. by Rodney Margison Staff writer
ID- Father Who Molested Infant Daughter Takes Own Life
Article Tags
.Idaho,
2005,
Age 24-36,
by Gunshot,
Suicide/s US - of SOs Accused
7-25-2005 Idaho:
Police say a 26-year-old Idaho father who was to be sentenced Friday for lewd conduct with his infant daughter has killed himself. Benjamin Nephi Wright had called himself a monster when he confessed to his wife that he had attempted intercourse with their 22-month-old daughter last September.
He was found shot to death in the chest Thursday at his mother's home in Athol, and police closed their investigation Monday, concluding Wright took his own life. Wright was facing punishment of up to life in prison and mandatory registration as a sex offender at Friday's scheduled sentencing hearing in First District Court. ..more.. : by KOIN TV6 Oregon
Police say a 26-year-old Idaho father who was to be sentenced Friday for lewd conduct with his infant daughter has killed himself. Benjamin Nephi Wright had called himself a monster when he confessed to his wife that he had attempted intercourse with their 22-month-old daughter last September.
He was found shot to death in the chest Thursday at his mother's home in Athol, and police closed their investigation Monday, concluding Wright took his own life. Wright was facing punishment of up to life in prison and mandatory registration as a sex offender at Friday's scheduled sentencing hearing in First District Court. ..more.. : by KOIN TV6 Oregon
CA- Cop Facing Sex Assault Charges Commits Suicide
Article Tags
.California,
2005,
Age 37-48,
by Gunshot,
Suicide - of Public Servant,
Suicide/s US - of SOs Accused
7-25-2005 California:
A San Francisco police inspector who was facing felony sexual assault charges in Solano County fatally shot himself in his Vacaville home last week, Vacaville police said. The Solano County Coroner's Office said Wilfredo Gonzalez Jr., 39, was found dead in his home at 9:07 p.m. June 21. The cause of death was a contact gunshot wound to the head, the coroner's office said.
Vacaville police said Gonzalez was facing sexual assault charges involving two alleged victims in 2002 and 2004. He was to have appeared in Solano County Superior Court on Thursday. Vacaville police Lt. Craig Courtemanche said another woman came forward about six weeks ago when she saw news articles about the charges against Gonzalez. Courtemanche said Gonzalez met the women on the Internet and arranged for them to come to his home. Police said Gonzalez faced seven charges regarding the alleged sexual assaults. ..more.. : by Bay City News
A San Francisco police inspector who was facing felony sexual assault charges in Solano County fatally shot himself in his Vacaville home last week, Vacaville police said. The Solano County Coroner's Office said Wilfredo Gonzalez Jr., 39, was found dead in his home at 9:07 p.m. June 21. The cause of death was a contact gunshot wound to the head, the coroner's office said.
Vacaville police said Gonzalez was facing sexual assault charges involving two alleged victims in 2002 and 2004. He was to have appeared in Solano County Superior Court on Thursday. Vacaville police Lt. Craig Courtemanche said another woman came forward about six weeks ago when she saw news articles about the charges against Gonzalez. Courtemanche said Gonzalez met the women on the Internet and arranged for them to come to his home. Police said Gonzalez faced seven charges regarding the alleged sexual assaults. ..more.. : by Bay City News
FL- Can suits exorcise ghost of coach?
Players are suing the estate of a soccer coach who killed himself after he was accused of sexually molesting them.
7-10-2005 Florida:
TAMPA - No one wanted to believe that about William Burton. No one wanted to think the man their kids had looked up to for years had done those things to their boys.
In life, he was a energetic businessman and an enthusiastic soccer coach. But when Burton, 61, committed suicide late last year after allegations surfaced that he had molested several boys on the Black Watch Soccer Club, death cheated the truth. In death, Burton became for some the ghost that will forever haunt their lives.
Now the families of two of Burton's alleged victims have turned to the courts for to quiet that restless spirit. Late last month, parents of two former Black Watch team members filed separate lawsuits in Hillsborough County against Burton's estate alleging that the late Gold Cup Coffee Service executive made sexual advances toward the boys and touched them inappropriately. The lawsuits also contend the soccer coach encouraged some teenage players to have sex with prostitutes during a team trip to Europe last year.
The lawsuits call for unspecified damages. But attorneys for the unnamed teens filed legal claims earlier this year in probate court seeking a total of roughly $1.25-million from Burton's estate.
J. Meredith Wester, an attorney for a 15-year-old Tampa player and his parents, said her clients were reluctant to file their June 22 lawsuit, but felt it was their only remaining avenue to justice.
"I'm convinced that there would have been charges against Bill Burton if he hadn't committed suicide," Wester said. "I think it's real unfortunate. I think there's a lot more victims out there that haven't come forward because of this situation."
Peter Catania, attorney for Richard Coleman, the father of another 15-year-old player, agreed.
"There's no criminal prosecution available,so there's no other alternative than the civil courts," Catania said.
A former Tampa resident, Coleman moved with his son to Massachusetts before filing the June 16 lawsuit, which also names the Black Watch Soccer Club as a defendant.
"He relocated with his son because he thought it would be best for his son to get a fresh start where no one was aware of the allegations," Catania said.
The lawsuits come seven months after a Gold Cup employee found Burton dead in a company minivan near his office on the morning of Dec. 17. Investigators found a gas generator and a suicide note in the vehicle. Burton's death followed a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation into allegations that he and three other Black Watch coaches were involved in sexual misconduct.
No charges were filed and the FDLE closed the inquiry in March. But during the course of the investigation, teen after teen told FDLE agents about Burton's sexual advances.
The trouble always seemed to start when the team traveled for out-of-town tournaments. During a team trip to Dallas a boy woke in the middle of the night to find Burton rubbing his back and the soccer coach's hand sliding down his boxer shorts, according to investigative reports. Other boys reported similar encounters with Burton during a trip to Seminole County. Another boy also reported seeing Burton masturbating in a hotel bathroom during one of the trips, records show.
The allegations against Burton became more complicated after several team members reported that Burton and assistant coach Eddie Rodriguez allowed the boys to visit Amsterdam's famous red light district. One team member told investigators Burton gave another teenager 50 euros to pay a prostitute to perform oral sex on the boy.
Parents of the boys reported the allegations to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office last July. The FDLE took over the case because the alleged sexual misconduct had occurred in several different places outside the county.
The charges shocked many in the community who knew Burton as the ultra-fit coach of Jesuit High School's junior varsity soccer program and longtime youth soccer booster. Before taking over his family's beverage service business in Tampa, Burton spent 17 years working his way up to the top rungs of the Marriott Corp. The allegations were a blot on his otherwise stellar reputation.
When FDLE investigators interviewed Burton last summer, he told them he knew he was in serious trouble. He said he wanted to talk about what had happened, but he'd been advised by his attorney not to say more. His death four months later left parents of the players wondering about the man they had entrusted with their sons.
"The father's upset that his son was a victim of Burton," Catania said of his client. "I think most people would be upset if their kids were a victim of something like that."
Con Foley, the personal representative for Burton's estate, said he was aware of the lawsuits but did not want to comment until he had consulted with his attorney.
Black Watch attorney Colleen Fitzgerald declined to discuss the lawsuit pending further consultation with team leadership. But she pointed out that the allegations have been costly for all involved.
Wester says her client has suffered considerably since the allegations against Burton were made public. The teenager has trouble sleeping and has lost some of his hair, she said.
"These boys are like hand picked for this team when they're 5 and 6 years old and Burton was their coach for all that time," Wester said. "That's what makes it so traumatic for the victims because the victims have known him for so many years."
The events of the past year have also damaged relations between team members, Wester said. After her client told his parents about what happened, he had few friends left from Black Watch. He now plays soccer for a different team.
"Some of those boys blame him for what happened to Burton," Wester said. "You can tell them there's nothing you did wrong, this man was sick, but when you're 14 and 15 years old, it's hard to believe that."
Researcher Cathy Wos contributed to this report. Candace Rondeaux can be reached at 813 226-3337 or rondeaux@sptimes.com ..more.. by CANDACE RONDEAUX
7-10-2005 Florida:
TAMPA - No one wanted to believe that about William Burton. No one wanted to think the man their kids had looked up to for years had done those things to their boys.
In life, he was a energetic businessman and an enthusiastic soccer coach. But when Burton, 61, committed suicide late last year after allegations surfaced that he had molested several boys on the Black Watch Soccer Club, death cheated the truth. In death, Burton became for some the ghost that will forever haunt their lives.
Now the families of two of Burton's alleged victims have turned to the courts for to quiet that restless spirit. Late last month, parents of two former Black Watch team members filed separate lawsuits in Hillsborough County against Burton's estate alleging that the late Gold Cup Coffee Service executive made sexual advances toward the boys and touched them inappropriately. The lawsuits also contend the soccer coach encouraged some teenage players to have sex with prostitutes during a team trip to Europe last year.
The lawsuits call for unspecified damages. But attorneys for the unnamed teens filed legal claims earlier this year in probate court seeking a total of roughly $1.25-million from Burton's estate.
J. Meredith Wester, an attorney for a 15-year-old Tampa player and his parents, said her clients were reluctant to file their June 22 lawsuit, but felt it was their only remaining avenue to justice.
"I'm convinced that there would have been charges against Bill Burton if he hadn't committed suicide," Wester said. "I think it's real unfortunate. I think there's a lot more victims out there that haven't come forward because of this situation."
Peter Catania, attorney for Richard Coleman, the father of another 15-year-old player, agreed.
"There's no criminal prosecution available,so there's no other alternative than the civil courts," Catania said.
A former Tampa resident, Coleman moved with his son to Massachusetts before filing the June 16 lawsuit, which also names the Black Watch Soccer Club as a defendant.
"He relocated with his son because he thought it would be best for his son to get a fresh start where no one was aware of the allegations," Catania said.
The lawsuits come seven months after a Gold Cup employee found Burton dead in a company minivan near his office on the morning of Dec. 17. Investigators found a gas generator and a suicide note in the vehicle. Burton's death followed a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation into allegations that he and three other Black Watch coaches were involved in sexual misconduct.
No charges were filed and the FDLE closed the inquiry in March. But during the course of the investigation, teen after teen told FDLE agents about Burton's sexual advances.
The trouble always seemed to start when the team traveled for out-of-town tournaments. During a team trip to Dallas a boy woke in the middle of the night to find Burton rubbing his back and the soccer coach's hand sliding down his boxer shorts, according to investigative reports. Other boys reported similar encounters with Burton during a trip to Seminole County. Another boy also reported seeing Burton masturbating in a hotel bathroom during one of the trips, records show.
The allegations against Burton became more complicated after several team members reported that Burton and assistant coach Eddie Rodriguez allowed the boys to visit Amsterdam's famous red light district. One team member told investigators Burton gave another teenager 50 euros to pay a prostitute to perform oral sex on the boy.
Parents of the boys reported the allegations to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office last July. The FDLE took over the case because the alleged sexual misconduct had occurred in several different places outside the county.
The charges shocked many in the community who knew Burton as the ultra-fit coach of Jesuit High School's junior varsity soccer program and longtime youth soccer booster. Before taking over his family's beverage service business in Tampa, Burton spent 17 years working his way up to the top rungs of the Marriott Corp. The allegations were a blot on his otherwise stellar reputation.
When FDLE investigators interviewed Burton last summer, he told them he knew he was in serious trouble. He said he wanted to talk about what had happened, but he'd been advised by his attorney not to say more. His death four months later left parents of the players wondering about the man they had entrusted with their sons.
"The father's upset that his son was a victim of Burton," Catania said of his client. "I think most people would be upset if their kids were a victim of something like that."
Con Foley, the personal representative for Burton's estate, said he was aware of the lawsuits but did not want to comment until he had consulted with his attorney.
Black Watch attorney Colleen Fitzgerald declined to discuss the lawsuit pending further consultation with team leadership. But she pointed out that the allegations have been costly for all involved.
Wester says her client has suffered considerably since the allegations against Burton were made public. The teenager has trouble sleeping and has lost some of his hair, she said.
"These boys are like hand picked for this team when they're 5 and 6 years old and Burton was their coach for all that time," Wester said. "That's what makes it so traumatic for the victims because the victims have known him for so many years."
The events of the past year have also damaged relations between team members, Wester said. After her client told his parents about what happened, he had few friends left from Black Watch. He now plays soccer for a different team.
"Some of those boys blame him for what happened to Burton," Wester said. "You can tell them there's nothing you did wrong, this man was sick, but when you're 14 and 15 years old, it's hard to believe that."
Researcher Cathy Wos contributed to this report. Candace Rondeaux can be reached at 813 226-3337 or rondeaux@sptimes.com ..more.. by CANDACE RONDEAUX
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