A 49-year-old anesthesiologist from Montana, arrested on multiple serious child sex offences, has died by suicide while in custody.
Arrest and Investigation into Disturbing Allegations
Jeffrey Scheihing, a medical practitioner based in Bozeman, was taken into custody by authorities on November 25. He faced a felony charge of sexual assault of children following a deeply troubling investigation.
The probe began on October 17 after the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force provided the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) with alarming information. Court records revealed Scheihing's email was linked to Kik messaging app accounts used to share inappropriate photos and videos of children.
The disgraced doctor is also alleged to have engaged in explicit online discussions about the molestation of young boys, with some behaviour reportedly traced back to the previous year.
Death in Custody and Ongoing Probes
Just two days after his arrest, on November 27, Scheihing was found dead in the Gallatin County detention centre. The coroner confirmed the death was a suicide.
Despite this finding, the Montana Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigations, has opened its own inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Scheihing was a member of Gallatin Valley Anesthesia Associates and had held practising privileges at Bozeman Health Deaconess Regional Medical Center since 2019. He also worked at several other medical facilities in the region.
In a statement, Bozeman Health confirmed they were aware of the arrest of a provider with privileges but stated they had no prior knowledge of the investigation and no information suggesting concerns related to his work within their facilities.
Community Impact and Police Warning to Parents
Detectives are now investigating whether Scheihing victimised any children through his professional access. GCSO Undersheriff Nate Kamerman confirmed this is a critical part of the wider ongoing investigation, with steps being taken to identify any potential victims in the community.
Kamerman issued a stark warning to all parents, urging heightened vigilance over their children's online activities. "Just be aware, especially of your kids, what's going on on the internet," he advised. "Be always aware of what they are looking at, what they are getting into, and who they are communicating with."
He added, "There is some really terrible stuff out there, but fortunately, we have a lot of really good people fighting, trying to keep kids safe, too."
