A Marion County elementary school teacher accused of engaging in sexual activity with a child younger than 12 years old was found dead Wednesday afternoon in his mother's shed, according to the Levy County Sheriff's Office.
Police believe Randolph Markham, 28, died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning, a sheriff's office press release stated. No foul play is suspected.
Notes proclaiming his innocence were found inside the shed, according to the release.
In August, Markham, a third-grade teacher at Romeo Elementary School in Marion County, was named a suspect in a lewd and lascivious offense. He was immediately put on administrative leave, said Kevin Christian, spokesman for Marion County Public Schools. The alleged offense did not occur on campus.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigated the allegations and issued a warrant for Markham's arrest on Wednesday.
Markham was found dead at 1:30 p.m. that day.
