The former chief of staff to Tennessee Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander has died. Politico reports 35-year-old Ryan Loskarn, who was facing child pornography charges, was found hanged Thursday afternoon.
The Maryland state medical examiner has confirmed Loskarn committed suicide, according to several media outlets. Loskarn, shown in this WMC-TV footage of his December arrest, was facing charges of possessing and distributing child pornography. (Via The Tennessean, USA Today)
Officials collected evidence including Loskarn's computer, seen in this WJLA video. They say his hard drive included hundreds of videos of minors engaging in sexual acts. (Via The Huffington Post)
Despite prosecutors suggesting he could be a suicide risk, he had been living with his parents after being released from custody Dec. 16 while awaiting the outcome of a grand jury proceeding. He had been ordered not to use the Internet and had to wear an ankle bracelet. (Via Politico)
Politico, which broke the story, quotes a statement from Alexander. In it, the senator said: "For everyone involved, this is a sad and tragic story from beginning to end."
Loskarn became the senator's chief of staff in 2012 and had been heavily involved in Alexander's 2014 re-election campaign. (Via Politico, YouTube / lamaralexander)
He was fired immediately after Alexander learned of the investigation.
