A Terre Haute firefighter accused of child molestation is dead.
Terre Haute police say Rodger Plunkett hanged himself on Thursday — the day he was supposed to appear in court.
According to sister station WVIG in Terre Haute, Plunkett sent two messages, one to his wife and one to a local TV news anchor, saying he was taking his own life because he “wasn’t the person he was made out to be.”
In September 2019, Plunkett was charged with five counts of child molestation for molesting two girls between 1998 and 2005.
Fire Chief Jeff Fisher had asked the Merit Commission to fire Plunkett, but the commission suspended him without pay until the court case was resolved. Plunkett was also accused of violating department rules for drunk driving.
