Investigators: Man commits suicide after child sex abuse allegations

ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — A Rowan County community is coming to grips with the news that a man shot and killed himself on a church property.

An investigation revealed Danny Kesler committed suicide after Bible Missionary Baptist church members accused him of inappropriately touching children.

Neighbors in Rockwell were shocked Kesler killed himself in the parking lot of the church and more surprised about the allegations against him.

The Sheriff's Office said it's still investigating and so far they've identified three victims.

The church website showed Kesler and his wife Sherry Kesler were house parents for the church's boarding school.

Last week, church leaders confronted Kesler about allegations he inappropriately touched some of the girls at the school. 

Kesler reportedly apologized for what he had done and said he was not going back to prison. 

A short time later, church leaders found him dead outside with a gunshot wound to his head.

Kesler had a master's degree in bible studies and was a U.S. Air Force veteran but he was also a felon with at least seven convictions on his record.

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WSOC