A former South Charleston High School Air Force Junior ROTC teacher charged with sexually abusing a child hanged himself in a hotel room.
Master Sgt. Eddie Smuda committed suicide in a New Jersey hotel while on a trip to visit family, according to authorities.
Smuda was awaiting trial after police said he sexually abused one of his male students in 2011.
At first, Smuda had a lot of support from friends and people in the community.
There's even a Facebook page filled with old comments and posts proclaiming his innocence.
But, support started to fade as more victims came forward.
Dunbar Police Chief E. E. Whittington said two additional victims came forward after the first one.
"Usually crimes of this type have a tendency to lend to additional victims, which is what has happened," he said.
The latest allegations against Smuda came from another boy in June.
Dunbar Police said even though Smuda is gone, this doesn't mean that the case is closed.
"We've received information that there is the possibility of further victims, and we're also investigating those leads as well to indicate whether those are valid victims or not," he said.
People may never know whether or not this former teacher committed these sexual crimes.
Their focus is helping the victims who have come forward.
Police also want to reach out to those who might have been ashamed to speak up in the past.
To contact Dunbar Police, call 304-766-0204.
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