Federal authorities have charged a Florida palliative care doctor with producing child pornography.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Holly Springs police in Georgia arrested Dr. Stephen Leedy was on December 19 after being pulled over.
Accusations have been made against him for allegedly coaching at least one of his victims to her death. The victim, a 13-year-old girl, was discovered “hanging from the shower head with a dog leash around her neck,” as reported by prosecutors from the Department of Justice.
“I’m sorry. What’s going on?” Leedy asked the officers, according to a police video obtained by News Channel 8.
“Just put your hands behind your back,” the officer replied.
Leedy told officers he was a victim of “mistaken identity” and said he was a physician who didn’t know of any warrants for his arrest.
An indictment was released on December 26 detailing the charges he is facing, including three counts of creating child sexual abuse material and two counts of pressuring or tempting a minor to engage in sexual activities.
DOJ officials mentioned in a press release on Monday that “Leedy, a palliative care doctor in the Tampa Bay region, purportedly exploited and targeted around ten minors online using the username ‘maximumuncle#9112’” according to the indictment and court documents.
During online chats and video calls, Leedy instructed the minors to create sexually explicit images of themselves and directed them to cut, choke, and hang themselves. In November 2021, Minor Victim 1 was found dead, having hanged herself in front of her phone in a manner consistent with the instructions Leedy had previously given her.”
The Miami Herald reports that as of January 7, Florida Department of Health records show that Leedy’s medical license remains active in the state. The records also indicate he has no disciplinary actions on his record.
According to WFLA, FDH records indicated he has been practicing medicine in the state since January 1991, focusing on hospice and palliative care. The alleged victims were unaware of his identity and profession.
If convicted on all counts against him, Leedy could served life in federal prison.
Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo: Dr. Stephen Leedy/ Florida Hospice & Palliative Care Association]
