A transgender person accused of molesting children at an autism center in Johnson County, Indiana, was found dead in a jail cell Friday, according to police.
Leomeir Kennedy was charged with child molestation and possession of child pornography in April, according to local outlet FOX59. Kennedy’s electronics, seized by police, revealed an internet search for “13-year-old gang raped” as well as sexual images Kennedy received of children, the outlet reported in April. Kennedy allegedly confessed to molesting children at Hopebridge Autism Therapy Center while fellow employees were on their lunch break.
“The Johnson County Coroner’s Office is conducting a death investigation involving a 31 year old transgender male Leomeir V. Kennedy of Vancouver, Washington,” police told the Daily Caller. “Kennedy was found in cardiac arrest at the facility.” (RELATED: Children’s Hospital Offers To Discuss ‘Gender Identity’ Along With 11-Year-Olds)
Emergency service personnel performed CPR on Kennedy for several minutes, but were unsuccessful. Police say they have notified Kennedy’s family, who live out of state, of the death.
JUST IN: A transgender man accused of molesting children at a Greenwood therapy center was found dead in his jail cell on Friday. https://t.co/lcNSAusfRw
— FOX59 News (@FOX59) August 11, 2023
“An autopsy and toxicology test have been schedule per our agencies inmate death protocol. A preliminary investigation has found no indication of foul play,” according to police.
“They can’t talk to us. They depend on them and us,” the mother of one of Kennedy’s alleged victims told FOX59 in April. “For someone who we have to trust and they have to trust to do something like this is sickening. It’s terrible.”
Shella Harris, the mother of an alleged victim, filed a lawsuit against the center in July, alleging Hopebridge was “careless and negligent.”
“As a direct and proximate result of the negligence and/or carelessness of Defendants, Leomeir Kennedy and Hopebridge, (the daughter) suffered serious and permanent injuries, incurred medical expenses, suffered pain and mental anguish, suffered psychological and emotional damage, incurred legal expenses, lost educational opportunities, lost enjoyment of life and will continue to suffer such damages in the future,” the lawsuit alleged, according to FOX59.
“Protecting the safety and welfare of our patients, visitors, and staff is always our main priority and has been at the core of who we are for over 17 years. At this time, we will not be able to comment further,” the autism center said in a statement to the outlet in July.