Child-Sex Sting Leads to Suicide

(Chicago, Illinois) A 40-year-old health department counselor and high school basketball referee, John K. Martynus, has reportedly committed suicide.

John K. Martynus repeatedly told police his life was over when they caught him arranging a sexual tryst last year with someone he thought was a 13-year-old girl.

The former Will County Health Department counselor and high school basketball referee admitted sending sexually explicit messages to what turned out to be an undercover Crete police officer. Prosecutors thought he’d plead guilty and learn his sentence in court Wednesday.

Instead, authorities said the 40-year-old Martynus killed himself hours before Wednesday’s hearing. The Kendall County Coroner’s office confirmed he was found at his home in Joliet, where police said he was discovered fully clothed in a bathtub.

Sad.