A Florida doctor faces serious charges after allegedly exploiting minors online, leading to a tragic death
Florida: A palliative care doctor named Stephen Andrew Leedy is in deep trouble. Prosecutors say he was involved in some really disturbing stuff online with minors.
They claim he not only encouraged kids to send explicit images but also gave one girl instructions that led to her tragic death. It’s heartbreaking.
Leedy, who’s 59 and worked in the Tampa Bay area, has been indicted on multiple charges, including producing child sexual abuse material. He allegedly used the username “maximumuncle#9112” to communicate with around ten children.
According to the feds, he told these kids to harm themselves, which is just awful. One girl was found dead in November 2021, and prosecutors say it was linked to his instructions.
If he’s found guilty, he could face life in prison. His lawyers are saying he plans to plead not guilty, insisting he denies all the charges against him.
Interestingly, his medical license is still active, and there haven’t been any complaints against him before this incident. He had some privileges at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, but they quickly cut ties once they learned about his arrest.
Leedy previously worked as the Chief Medical Officer at Tidwell Hospice, but that was over a decade ago. Emblem Health, which is connected to Tidwell, expressed concern over the allegations but noted he hasn’t been employed by them for years.
