A Florida physician has been charged after he allegedly compelled 10 kids to ship him sexually express pictures on-line and directed them to choke and grasp themselves, resulting in the dying of 1 sufferer.

Tampa Bay palliative care physician Stephen Leedy, 59, is dealing with prices of manufacturing of kid sexual abuse materials and coercing or engaging a minor to interact in sexual exercise.

Prosecutors mentioned that Leedy sexually exploited and victimized ten kids on-line.

He allegedly engaged in a collection of on-line conversations and video chats with the youngsters below the username “maximumuncle#9112.”

Authorities mentioned Leedy instructed the minors to supply sexually express pictures of themselves and directed them to chop, choke, and grasp themselves.

In a single occasion in November 2022, a 13-year-old lady was discovered lifeless after she hung herself at her dwelling in “a way according to directions Leedy had beforehand supplied her,” the Division of Justice mentioned.

The kid was discovered “hanging from the bathe head with a canine leash round her neck” together with her telephone positioned in entrance of her, in keeping with DOJ prosecutors.

One 13-year-old sufferer was ordered to “use a blade to chop (herself)” and choke herself, whereas one other was informed to interact in “each day hangings,” in keeping with prosecutors.

Prosecutors mentioned Leedy didn’t reveal his identification to the victims and would use a black display whereas speaking to them on video calls.

“The conversations regularly revolved round his management over the minor sufferer, commenting on how ‘obedient’ they’re and asking not less than one minor sufferer to seek advice from him as ‘my Lord,’” prosecutors mentioned.

“The whole lot that Leedy instructed these minor victims to do was both bodily or mentally detrimental to the minor victims.”

Leedy is the husband of the chief administrative officer of the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County, Lynda Leedy.

“The arrest and allegations got here as a whole shock to all, together with his spouse,” the board mentioned in a press release.

He’s being held in federal custody in Atlanta. Leedy faces a most penalty of life in federal jail.