Fla. Doctor Coerced Girl to Hang Herself While Producing Child Sex Abuse Material: Feds
Stephen Andrew Leedy, 59, faces charges of producing child sexual abuse material and enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity
Getty
Content warning: This article contains disturbing descriptions of violence and sexual abuse against children.
A Florida doctor is facing criminal charges after federal prosecutors allege he produced child sexual abuse material and coerced a girl to hang herself, resulting in her death.
Stephen Andrew Leedy, 59, also faces charge of enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity in connection with the case, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announced in a press release shared on Monday, Jan. 6.
Leedy, a palliative care doctor in the area of Tampa, Fla., allegedly instructed about 10 children online to “produce sexually explicit images of themselves and directed them to cut, choke, and hang themselves,” the release states.
In November 2022, a 13-year-old girl was found dead in her bathroom, hanging from the shower head with a dog leash around her neck, according to a motion filed in the case and reviewed by PEOPLE.
Investigators then searched the girl’s cell phone and uncovered online conversations between her and someone with the username “maximumuncle#9112,” which was later allegedly determined to be Leedy, the motion states. In the messages, authorities claim Leedy instructed the girl to produce child sexual abuse material, “engage in daily hangings” and choke herself with a dog leash, per the motion.
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
Authorities said a search of Leedy’s social media account allegedly showed he had similar conversations with other children through text and video chat, adding he never revealed his true identity, according to the motion. Investigators claimed the conversations showed that Leedy was “aware” the alleged victims were minors.
Leedy’s defense attorneys, Bjorn Brunvand and Lucas Fleming, told the Tampa Bay Times their client “adamantly denies the charges that have been filed against him in federal court.” The attorneys added they plan to file a not guilty plea on Leedy’s behalf.
If convicted of the three counts of production of child sexual abuse material and two counts of coercing or enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity, prosecutors said Leedy faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
Read the original article on People
