Crime & Safety

ISAAC School Teacher Arrested On Sex Charges Found Dead

Jeffrey Francis' Body Pulled From Lake Beseck in Middlefield

State Police have confirmed that the body pulled from Lake Beseck in Middlefield today is that of Jeffrey Francis, the 23-year-old ISAAC school teacher arrested this week on charges of sexually assaulting a minor.

State police at the Troop F Barracks in Westbrook today said Francis' body was discovered by state police divers at about 1 p.m. Police had undertaken a search of the lake and the surrounding area on Thursday after receiving a report that Francis was missing. 

About 20 troopers began focusing their search around Lake Beseck around 10 p.m., yesterday after Francis' car was found abandoned on King Road, which runs alongside the lake, state police said.

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State police dogs from the barracks' K-9 unit took part in the search. Around 9 a.m., today, police said, state police divers were called in to search the lake. 

Francis' body was was taken to the Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner in Farmington for an autopsy. 

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Francis, who lived in Durham, taught at the Interdistrict School for Arts and Communication in New London and was arrested earlier this week on charges he sexually assaulted a juvenile. Sources say that juvenile was 13 years old. 

Francis, of 226 Skeet Club Road, was arrested at his home after police served a search warrant for his computer and other electronic devices.

According to a report, no ISAAC students were involved.

Francis allegedly opened a private Facebook account under a pseudonym to communicate with the juvenile, police said, and began meeting with the juvenile in January.

The Day reports that Francis was released Wednesday after posting $100,000 bond.

He had been placed on administrative leave by the school.


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