Dr. Stephen Andrew Leedy, 59, a palliative care doctor, was arrested outside of Atlanta on Dec. 20th for the alleged crimes that happened in 2021 and 2022. Court documents show that Dr. Leedy hid behind a cloak of anonymity, and a lot of details in this alleged crime are very graphic.
The allegations against Dr. Leedy are shocking. He is accused of targeting 10 minors online. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says that, through explicit chats, Leedy would instruct the children to perform a variety of sex acts on video calls with him.
A court motion says that Leedy, who went by the username “maximumuncle#9112,” would instruct the children to cut, choke, and hang themselves.
A 13-year-old girl was reportedly instructed to use a blade to cut her breast and to choke herself. Another girl was encouraged to participate in daily hangings. In one message to the 13-year-old, he allegedly said, “Can your life be filled with cutting your breasts and tummy for Daddy?” and “not eating and vomiting for Daddy.”
One of the most egregious allegations surrounds the death of one of those victims, a 13-year-old girl. Investigators said that the young girl was found dead in her bathroom, appearing to have hanged herself with a dog leash. The motion says her cell phone was propped up on the bathtub directly in front of her. Law enforcement found various sexual in nature conversations with an individual online with the username “maximumuncle#9112,” who was later determined to be Leedy.
The conversations found by law enforcement included Leedy directing the minor victim to produce child pornography and choke herself using a dog leash.
The last employment record shows that Leedy was previously a chief medical officer at Tidewell Hospice. Tidewell Hospice confirms that Leedy hadn’t been employed there for more than 10 years.
Leedy’s attorney says that he adamantly denies the charges. He released a statement: “It is particularly important in moments like this, when someone is being accused of very troubling allegations, that we afford him the presumption of innocence. We will be entering a not guilty plea at the earliest opportunity and look forward to vigorously defending Dr. Leedy in court.”
Leedy is married to the chief administrative officer of the Juvenile Welfare Board (JWB) of Pinellas County.
The JWB chief executive officer, Beth Houghton, released a statement: “While this news leaves us stunned and saddened for Ms. Leedy, her family, and any potential victims in this case, I have the utmost confidence in her ability to continue to carry out JWB’s mission of strengthening the lives of our county’s children and families.”
Leedy is in U.S. Marshal custody and is expected to be brought back to Tampa. The Department of Justice hasn’t released the mugshot under its policies.
