HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — A Hillsborough County Fire Rescue captain who’d been in jail for nearly a month on child pornography charges died after an apparent suicide. 

Marshall Nelson, 52, was arrested on Jan. 30 after reportedly having more than 300 images and videos of child sexual abuse and child pornography on various electronic devices belonging to him, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said. He was charged with 100 counts of possession of child pornography 10 or more images and content of images. 

Just after 2 p.m. on Feb. 25, detention deputies at the Falkenburg Road Jail reportedly found Nelson hanging with a bedsheet from the shower door “in an apparent attempt to end his life.” Deputies and medical staff reportedly “immediately” started life-saving efforts before he was rushed to the hospital. 

The next day, Feb. 26, Nelson died at the hospital. His official cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner’s office, the sheriff’s office said. 

When the news of Nelson’s arrest was released, Sheriff Chad Chronister issued the following statement: “The actions of this individual are not only vile and deeply disturbing but also a betrayal of the trust placed in those who are meant to protect and serve,” he said. “There is no place in our community for such reprehensible behavior. I commend the efforts of our Internet Predator Unit detectives, whose relentless pursuit of justice has ensured that this offender will be held accountable for these unacceptable actions.”

The sheriff’s office said the investigation is still “active and ongoing.” 

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