HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – Authorities say the Strawberry Crest High School history teacher and former wrestling coach accused of soliciting nude photos from an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old boy died the day after his arrest.
Anthony Michael Peace, 37, was arrested Wednesday at the school following an undercover investigation targeting suspects seeking to have sex with minors.
According to Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, on March 29, 2021, an HCSO undercover detective portraying a 14-year-old male on social media came in contact with Anthony Michael Peace, 37, after Peace initiated a conversation.
Throughout the course of the investigation, Peace solicited nude photos from the decoy teenager and sent explicit videos of himself.
Detectives gained access to sufficient evidence to charge Peace on Wednesday, with five counts of transmission of harmful material to a minor, one count of unlawful use of a two-way communications device, and one count of use of computer services or devices to solicit certain illegal acts.
On Friday, Strawberry Crest High School sent a message to parents confirming that Peace had died, and grief counselors would be made available to students and staff.
No additional information on the cause of death has been released. We will update this story when further details are released.
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