(COLDWATER) – A suspect arrested in connection with multiple criminal sexual conduct charges has been found dead.

Branch County Prosecutor Zach Stempien issued a media release Friday, announcing that 45 year old Henry Hoath of Quincy had been found dead in an abandoned building.

Hoath was arrested by the Quincy Police Department after they conducted an investigation along with the Michigan State Police, that started in February into alleged incidents that happened between November 2022 and January 2023 with a 13 year old.

Hoath was arraigned May 20 on three charges of second degree criminal sexual conduct along with aggravated child sexually abusive activity; using a computer to commit a crime; aggravated possession of child sexually abusive material and capturing and distributing an image of an unclothed person.

Stempien also filed a second offense habitual offender sentencing enhancer against Hoath. Online court records show that Hoath was convicted in 1997 for attempted misdemeanor fourth degree criminal sexual conduct.
In the release, Stempien says Hoath, who plead not guilty, was able to post a $100,000 bond and was scheduled to have a probable cause hearing on Thursday in Branch County District Court. When Hoath didn’t show up, a bench warrant was issued.
Stempien presented information that Hoath was a potential risk not only to himself but to others. Area law enforcement agencies began a search for Hoath and found him dead.
Assisting with the search were the Branch County Sheriff’s Department and the Michigan State Police.