Accused Child Molester Found Dead in RivCo Jail Cell

An autopsy was pending Thursday on an accused child molester found dead in his cell at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside.

Larry Michael Rivers, 46, was found unconscious in his jail cell on the morning of Nov. 9, officials announced Wednesday.  

"Preliminary information indicates the incident is an apparent suicide," said Riverside County sheriff's Chief Deputy Jerry Gutierrez.  "There is no evidence of foul play or assaultive behavior."

Gutierrez said emergency personnel attempted to revive Rivers without success, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Rivers was booked into the detention facility on Oct. 31 after a judge increased his bail to $1 million, according to jail and court records.

In September, the District Attorney's Office filed a complaint against the defendant alleging lewd and lascivious acts on a child. An amended complaint was filed a month later, adding multiple sex-related charges involving several children, all of them related, according to court records.

Though investigators believe this was a suicide, the official cause of death will be determined by an autopsy, Gutierrez said.  The investigation is ongoing, he added.

City News Service contributed to this report.