JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville man accused of molesting children at churches he worked for as youth group leader was found dead in Duval County Jail Wednesday afternoon, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
Gregory Norton, 59, was charged with eight counts of sexual battery in September.
Norton died Wednesday at about 2:14 p.m., the report said.
A release from JSO Thursday said Norton was initially housed in the Pre-Trial Detention Facility and was taken to a local hospital due to a continuing medical issue on Jan. 19. Norton remained under doctors’ care until he died Wednesday.
JSO became aware of Norton's alleged crimes on Aug. 7, JSO said in a press release. The first accuser reported that Norton had sexually abused them "years earlier" when they were a teenager. Norton met them through church functions, the agency said. A second victim was identified when JSO began conducting interviews with potential witnesses, Public Information Officer Christian Hancock said.
Norton had worked as a nurse for Wolfson Children's Hospital. Red flags were raised over numerous complaints about Norton's behavior, according to reports.