Accused San Angelo Pedophile Dead at 77

A San Angelo man recently charged with child pornography and online solicitation of a minor was found dead in his residence Wednesday afternoon, Police Chief Tim Vasquez confirms. John Edward Sullivan, 77, likely died of natural causes. Police confirm that there is not a criminal investigation of his death.

On March 26, 2014, Sullivan was arrested on a warrant by local troopers of the Texas Department of Public Safety at his residence at 516 S. Jefferson St.

The DPS had been investigating Sullivan for seven months in connection to the aforementioned charges. The investigation, led by the DPS Criminal Investigations Division (CID), originated in August 2013 with a complaint of obscene phone calls made to the San Angelo Girl Scouts of America.

Sullivan was later identified as the primary suspect in the Girl Scouts calls, and in other calls during which he allegedly discussed sex with juveniles, a March 2014 DPS press release states.

During the search, law enforcement officers seized multiple items of child pornography and one child victim had been identified. Additional inappropriate photographs of unidentified children were also seized, and DPS is working to identify those victims. Also seized were multiple video cassettes, CDs, two computers and miscellaneous records and documentation.  The computers are undergoing additional examination, the release states.

The San Angelo Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations assisted DPS CID with the investigation, which was ongoing up until the time of his death.

Sullivan was a real estate investor in San Angelo. Sources say that he had millions in local real estate, but he is also reported to have frequented local soup kitchens and charitable organizations to utilize their services.