By New York Post (U.S.) | Created at 2025-01-07 20:01:41 | Updated at 2025-01-08 17:43:08
21 hours ago
A Florida doctor has been charged with allegedly forcing young girls to send him sexually explicit photos and urging them to “cut, choke and hang themselves” — leading to one 13-year-old’s tragic death, federal prosecutors said.
Married palliative care doctor Stephen Andrew Leedy, 59, of St. Petersburg, is accused of using the username “maximumuncle#9112” to prey on roughly 10 children in a sickening, years-long alleged crime spree, the Department of Justice said Monday.
In various online conversations and video chats, the doctor — whose wife helps lead a welfare group for kids — allegedly convinced the youngsters to self-harm while sending him lewd photos of themselves, court filings charge.
One of the victims — a 13-year-old girl — was subsequently found dead in her bathroom after hanging herself in November 2021, prosecutors said.
The teen’s phone was found propped up on the bathtub in front of her, the court papers state.
A search of her phone later uncovered sexually charged chats with Leedy — during which he convinced her to engage in “daily hangings,” prosecutors allege.
“The weight of evidence against Leedy is extremely strong,” the filings state. “Leedy very clearly engaged in this precatory behavior with approximately 10 minors across the country.
“He had absolutely no disregard for their safety and took advantage of children more than half his age to gratify himself.”
Leedy has been practicing medicine in the Sunshine State since 1991, Florida Department of Health records show.
He specializes in palliative and hospice care.
The suspect’s wife, Lynda Leedy, has served on Pinellas County’s Juvenile Welfare Board for the past decade — which oversees children’s mental health initiative, ABC Action News reported.
“Ms. Leedy is a valued member of JWB’s Executive Leadership Team, where she holds herself and others to the highest standards of ethical and professional behavior and possesses impeccable integrity,” JWB CEO Beth Houghton said in a statement.
“While this news leaves us stunned and saddened for Ms. Leedy, her family, and any potential victims in this case, I have the utmost confidence in her ability to continue to carry out JWB’s mission of strengthening the lives of our county’s children and families.”
Leedy has been indicted on a slew of charges, including the production of child sexual abuse material and coercing or enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity.
He faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison if convicted on all counts.
