A pastor charged with seeking sex with a minor committed suicide on Monday.
David James Brown, 46, a pastor from Jeffersonville, Indiana, was caught arranging a sexual encounter with a minor by an undercover investigator.
Brown travelled to Frankfort on June 15 to meet with who he thought was a minor, but was the undercover officer who had spoken to Brown online via the KIK messenger app.
He was arrested and booked into Franklin County Regional Jail that day.
He had been due a second preliminary hearing Tuesday June 28 at 1pm, but he reportedly hanged himself on Monday evening. He died of asphyxiation according to the Cobb County Medical Examiner's Office.
The case has now been dismissed with prejudice due to Brown's death.
Brown was the head pastor of First Christian Church, which released a statement following his arrest saying it was "a sad day for our church".
"We learned of criminal allegations against our Senior Pastor, David Brown, that cut to the heart of the trust placed in the church. We take these allegations seriously," the statement said.
The church had placed Brown on administrative leave and relieved of ministerial duties as the investigation was undergone.
There will be a prayer service on Thursday, June 30 at 7pm in the Sanctuary of the First Christian Church, with regional staff and a grief counsellor leading the service.
