JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Nov. 11 (UPI) -- A Baptist minister accused of molesting four children decades ago died this weekend before facing his accusers his court.
The Rev. Robert Gray's attorney said the molestation suspect died after a prolonged battle with several health problems that had kept him in a Jacksonville hospital since mid-October, the Jacksonville (Fla.) Times-Union reported Sunday.
Prior to his death Saturday, Gray, 81, had been set to face six counts of capital sexual battery for allegedly molesting four girls at Trinity Baptist Church during the 1970s.
The church also has been targeted by the molestation allegations through civil lawsuits from five of Gray's alleged victims.
While Gray's trial was to focus on the alleged molestation of four girls, more than 20 women have accused him of molesting them when they were younger. The Times-Union said most of those allegations did not result in official charges since the statute of limitations on the alleged crimes had expired.
