A Woodstock man found dead from a self-inflicted injury earlier this week was under investigation for criminal sexual assault of a child, and Woodstock Police are asking for help in finding more possible victims.
Kevin B. Molthop, 57, of the 200 block of Fremont Street, was found dead in his apartment Feb. 22, a day after police searched his home and questioned him regarding allegations he sexually assaulted a child.
McHenry County Coroner Anne Majewski said a preliminary investigation showed Molthop died by suicide. Toxicology reports are pending, and the death remains under investigation, she said.
Woodstock Police searched Molthop’s home Feb. 21 and questioned him, but he was released without charges pending the results of an evidence analysis, according to a press release from Woodstock Police Chief John Lieb.
Police responded to a 911 call to Molthop’s apartment at 4:21 p.m. the next day and found him dead.
Molthop “had an open-door policy for children to come and go” from his apartment, Lieb said. He said a parent contacted police about the alleged abuse.
Police believe Molthop sexually assaulted multiple children. Lieb said authorities don’t know how long the alleged sexual assaults had been taking place or how many children may have been targeted.
Molthop’s only contact with law enforcement prior to this investigation was in the 1980s for a theft complaint outside of Woodstock, police said.
Lieb said the criminal investigation was closed following Molthop’s death, but the search for more possible victims continues.
“It’s our suspicion that there is more than one victim,” Lieb said. “If there are victims … the purpose [of the investigation] is to get to these individuals help.”
Woodstock School District 200 has been notified of the investigation and the police department’s school resource officer is working with district personnel, Lieb said.
Lieb asks anyone who knows of suspicious contact between Molthop and a child to call the Woodstock Police Department’s Investigations Division at 815-338-2131.