Suspected child molester dies in jail

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ATLANTA, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- A Georgia man accused of molesting a 12-year-old girl 30 years ago has died just days before he was to appear in court on the charge, an official said.

Douglas County District Attorney David McDade told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Charles Leon Parker, 70, died at a facility in South Carolina where he was transferred after becoming ill.

Parker was first arrested in 1982 after investigators learned of allegations he was having sexual intercourse with his 8th grade stepdaughter.

He fled Georgia after being released on $25,000 bond and spent the next 29 years on the run.

During that time, Parker was featured on "America's Most Wanted" and topped the list of Douglas County, Ga.'s most sought-after fugitives.

Eight months ago he was discovered living in Florida under an assumed name and extradited to Georgia.

"Justice was served today," McDade said in an emailed statement revealing Parker's death on Tuesday morning.