Teacher arrested last week in child predator sting is now dead

Dover, Florida: Anthony Michael Peace was arrested last week after he allegedly solicited images from an undercover detective that had been posing as a 14-year-old child during an online sting operation.

The 37-year-old former history teacher at Strawberry Crest High School was charged 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.

At the time of his arrest, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office stated that their detectives were "working to determine if other minors or students may have been victimized by Peace."

They requested that anyone with additional information contact their office at (813) 247-8200.

The day after his arrest, Peace posted $14,000 bond and was released from custody at about 1:30 in the morning.

Later that morning the Tampa Bay Times reports that his mother saw him walking outside his residence with a shotgun. She promptly called 911.

Plant City Police later confirmed the discovery of a deceased "white adult male" with "upper body trauma" in a wooded area along Mendonsa Drive, not far from Peace's residence. While officers did not state the name of the deceased, WTVT reports that the school sent a notice to parents on Friday confirming the death of Peace without specifying the manner of his death.

The school stated that grief counselors would be available for staff and students.