A south Florida former maths teacher who was accused of having sex with a 16-year-old has been found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, local news reports.
The body of Charles Maglio, 54, was discovered by a passer-by on the ground of a local wood in Coral Springs on October 1, according to a report from Broward County Medical Examiner and Trauma Services obtained by WPBF 25 News.
What led to his death?
Maglio had been a teacher at Wellington Community High School but was facing two felony sexual misconduct charges after being arrested last month.
Authorities began investigating the teacher in December after he was reported for sending flowers to a teen at a restaurant where she worked.
When police interviewed the student, she described multiple sexual encounters with Maglio at his apartment.
According to the arrest affidavit, as reported by local news, the student began to visit him in the classroom after school because she was looking for ‘a mentor fatherly figure, but it escalated.’
Then the victim reportedly said the pair then began talking on social media, and had sex several times at Maglio’s apartment.
‘I’m in love with him’
The victim said that she slept over at his apartment several times and kept clothes and a toothbrush there.
When the student became aware of the investigation she reportedly contacted Baglio and ‘gave him a heads up about a possible investigation. She said she deleted all their text messages and was sure he did the same.’
When questioned, she said: ‘I don’t want him to get in trouble. I’m in love with him.’
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But then, when police monitored a phone call between Maglio and the teen, he was caught professing his love and saying he could not wait for the teen to turn 18, according to The Palm Beach Post.
Under Florida law, the age of consent is 18, and 16 and 17-year-olds are only able to consent to a partner under the age of 24.
Maglio self-surrendered to the sheriff’s office and self-reported the matter to the school district, Cory Strolla, his defense attorney, said in September.
He was arrested and charged with unlawful sexual activity with a minor and offense against a student by an authority figure.
He posted the $20,000 bond and was released from jail, but was due back in court this month.
The Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office has dropped the charges in the wake of his death.
