US actor Mark Salling, known for his role in the TV series Glee, has been found dead near his Los Angeles home(January 30), according to the Associated Press.
Salling’s lawyer Michael J. Proctor has since confirmed his death to TAP. In an email statement, Proctor said: “Mark was a gentle and loving person, a person of great creativity, who was doing his best to atone for some serious mistakes and errors of judgment.” He added that Salling’s family had asked for its request for privacy be respected.
The Los Angeles Police Department said the star was reported missing around three a.m. this morning. His body was recovered around nine a.m. near a riverbed in the Sunland area of LA. Ed Winter of the Los Angeles County Corner’s officer has since confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that Salling died by suicide.
Salling was indicted in May 2016 on charges of receiving and possessing child pornography.
He pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor and was scheduled for sentencing March 7.
As part of a plea agreement, Salling was expected to be sentenced to four years to seven years in federal prison, followed by a 20-year period of supervised release and registration as a sex offender.
Glee producer Tim Davis has responded to the news of Salling’s death, writing on Twitter: “Today we lost another #Glee cast member.
“Yes, he committed crimes against children. Yes, it’s horrific. But #Mark Salling was a broken man, no doubt an abuse victim himself. I loved Mark, and am sad when I consider the devastation of his parents. PLEASE withhold your cruel comments.”
> Shiuly Akter
