A Hartford HealthCare rheumatology chief recently arrested as a result of a child exploitation investigation in Meriden has died, according to multiple media reports.
John Magaldi, 61, was one of three men facing criminal charges following a joint operation between the Meriden Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation that targeted people seeking sexual activity with children, the Meridan Police Department said.
Magaldi was arrested along with a 28-year-old man and a 50-year-old man and charged with attempting to make sexual contact with victims younger than 16 years old.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed Magaldi’s death to multiple media outlets on Wednesday and said his body was found in Litchfield.
Magaldi, who was the chief of rheumatology at the Hartford HealthCare Bone and Joint Institute, was charged with criminal attempt at risk of injury, sexual contact with a victim under the age of 16, criminal attempted second-degree sexual assault and criminal attempted commercial sexual abuse of a minor and interfering with police.
Magaldi was released on a $350,000 bond, according to court records.
“The news of the arrest and death of Dr. John Magaldi is deeply troubling,” Hartford HeathCare said in a statement to NBC Connecticut on Wednesday. “We are ensuring all patients will continue to be cared for, and we are providing support for our colleagues.”
According to his profile on the Hartford HealthCare website, Magaldi worked at the Bone and Joint Institutes at Hartford Hospital and Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington
Magaldi had been placed on administrative leave following his arrest, according to a spokesperson for Hartford HealthCare.
“We are troubled to learn of the arrest and we take these allegations seriously,” Hartford HealthCare told the Hartford Courant in a statement issued Monday. “With safety as a core value, we have placed Dr. John Magaldi on administrative leave, and we are working to gather information from law enforcement authorities so that we can address this situation appropriately.
According to his HHC profile, Magaldi attended medical school at St. George’s University School of Medicine and completed his residency, fellowship and internship at Yale University. He was a member of several professional organizations including the American College of Rheumatology, American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, the Connecticut State Medical Society, according to HHC.
Meriden police also charged William Suarez, 28, with criminal attempt at risk of injury, sexual contact with a victim under the age of 16, criminal attempted second-degree sexual assault and criminal attempt commercial sexual abuse of a minor.
Francisco Carrero, 50, was also charged with criminal attempted at risk of injury, sexual contact with a victim under the age of 16, criminal attempted second-degree sexual assault, criminal attempted commercial sexual abuse of a minor and possession of narcotics.
Suarez and Carrero’s bonds were set at $250,000, police said.
Magaldi was scheduled to appear in court on March 22, records show.
Magaldi’s cause of death is unknown at this time. The medical examiner said an autopsy is expected to be performed on Thursday, multiple media outlets reported.
Information from Courant reporter Taylor Hartz was used in this report.