Mark Salling is dead of an apparent suicide according to TMZ, who broke the story. He was 35 years old.
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A source told the outlet Salling’s body was found near a riverbed in the Sunland neighborhood of LA close to where he lived. The specific cause of death appears to be hanging. TMZ reports that Salling’s body was found hanging from a tree. The news outlet also reports that police officers had been called to Salling’s residence to do a welfare check, although it’s unclear what the initial reason for the call was or whether Salling had been alive at the time the call was made. A family member had apparently gone to the LAPD around 3 a.m. local time to report that Salling was missing.
“The LAPD did respond to a death investigation at 8:50 this morning at the 11900 block Big Tujunga Canyon Road,” an officer told Fox News.
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Salling had recently been indicted on charges of child pornography. Over 50,000 images of prepubescent minors were found on his computer and a thumb drive. He pleaded guilty to the charges, and sentencing was set for March. TMZ reports Salling may have previously attempted to commit suicide in August, but his lawyer denied the allegations.
He was facing four to seven years in prison and would have been required to register as a sex offender. He also wouldn’t have been allowed to speak to anyone under the age of 18 without a parent or legal guardian present.
Following his prison sentence, he was facing 20 years on parole and would have been required to stay 100 feet away from public swimming pools, playgrounds, video arcades, schoolyards and parks. He would have been required to pay $50,000 in restitution to any victim who requested it. His passport was also revoked.
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This wasn’t the first time Salling had trouble with the law. His ex-girlfriend, Roxanne Gorzela, accused him of sexual battery. They settled the lawsuit and he was ordered to pay her $2.7 million. He was also accused of rape in 2016.
Salling was best known for his role as Noah “Puck” Puckerman on Glee, which ran from 2009 to 2015.
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