In one of the most disturbing cases of online child exploitation to emerge from Florida in recent years, federal authorities have arrested a prominent physician on charges that have shocked both the medical community and law enforcement officials across the state.
The arrest has brought renewed attention to the growing threat of digital predators and the devastating impact of online exploitation on vulnerable minors. As details of the case continue to emerge, it has become a stark reminder of how predators can hide behind professional credentials while committing unspeakable crimes against children.
The Accused: A Respected Medical Professional
Dr. Stephen Andrew Leedy, a 59-year-old palliative care specialist from St. Petersburg, was arrested on December 20, 2024, in Georgia and has been charged with three counts of production of child sexual abuse material and two counts of coercing or enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity. The arrest was announced by federal prosecutors in January 2025.
Leedy worked as a palliative care doctor at several Florida hospices, including Gulfside Healthcare Services in the Tampa Bay region and Tidewell Hospice, which has locations in Sarasota and Manatee counties. His medical specialty involved providing comfort care to patients with serious illnesses, a role that requires the highest levels of trust and compassion.
The contrast between Leedy’s professional responsibilities and the allegations against him has left colleagues and patients’ families stunned. “It is with profound shock and dismay that we learned of the indictment of Dr. Stephen Leedy, formerly employed by Gulfside Healthcare Services as a consultant,” said a spokesperson for the organization. “His employment ended in October 2023. The allegations are incredibly disturbing, and contrary to the values of Gulfside.”
A Pattern of Exploitation and Manipulation
According to federal prosecutors, Leedy “utilized the username ‘maximumuncle#9112’ to sexually exploit and victimize approximately ten minors online”. The scope and methodical nature of the alleged crimes paint a picture of calculated predation that spanned multiple victims over an extended period.
Court documents allege that in online conversations and video chats, Leedy instructed the minors to produce sexually explicit images of themselves and directed them to cut, choke, and hang themselves. The charges represent some of the most serious allegations in the realm of online child exploitation, combining sexual abuse with the encouragement of self-harm.
Federal investigators uncovered what they describe as a systematic pattern of exploitation. According to court filings, “Leedy never revealed his true identity on this online social media application. He hid behind the cloak of anonymity by either lying about his identity or using a black screen while engaging in video calls with the minor victims.”
The anonymous nature of his online persona allowed Leedy to manipulate and coerce his victims while maintaining his professional reputation in the real world. This duality—the respected physician by day and online predator by night—exemplifies the challenges law enforcement faces in combating digital crimes against children.
A Tragic Loss of Life
The most devastating aspect of this case involves the death of one of Leedy’s alleged victims. In November 2022, a 13-year-old girl identified as Minor Victim 1 was discovered deceased, having hanged herself in front of her phone in a manner consistent with instructions Leedy had previously provided her.
Court documents provide horrifying details: the girl was found dead in a shower, with her cellphone propped up on her bathtub directly in front of her. The phone showed she had been talking to “maximumuncle#9112,” who was later determined to be Leedy.
This tragic death represents the ultimate consequence of online predation—the loss of a young life to an adult who exploited a child’s vulnerability for his own gratification. The case serves as a stark reminder that the actions of online predators can have fatal real-world consequences.
The Investigation Unfolds
Leedy was arrested on December 19, 2024, by Holly Springs Police officers in Georgia as he traveled toward Fannin County with his wife and mother-in-law. Body camera footage from the arrest shows Leedy expressing confusion and denial about the charges against him.
“That’s never happened,” Leedy said when informed of the warrant. “That’s, I mean, that’s not even possible.” The officer told Leedy that the warrants have his name and photograph. “That’s why all of us are out here, because that’s a pretty serious crime,” the officer said.
The arrest occurred as Leedy and his family were heading to their property in Georgia, where they own multiple vacation rentals and a lake house. Public records show Leedy and his wife have owned property in the area since 2006, including short-term rentals and a lake house purchased in August 2021.
Following his arrest, Leedy was turned over to the FBI’s Conasauga Safe Streets Task Force and then transported to a federal holding facility. He is currently being held at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tallahassee.
Professional Consequences and Medical License Suspension
The medical community’s response was swift and decisive. The Florida Department of Health issued an emergency suspension order of Leedy’s medical license on January 7, 2025. The suspension prevents him from practicing medicine while the criminal case proceeds.
Healthcare organizations that had employed Leedy moved quickly to distance themselves from the accused physician. Timothy J. Regan, president and chief medical officer of Lakeland Regional Health, clarified that Leedy “is not, and has never been, employed by Lakeland Regional Health and there is no record of Dr. Leedy ever treating patients at our hospital.”
However, Regan noted that “through his affiliation with an outside hospice organization, he had limited consulting staff privileges for adult-only hospice and palliative care and was not on the active medical staff. These privileges at our hospital were relinquished immediately upon notification of his arrest.”
Personal Impact: A Family in Shock
The arrest has devastated Leedy’s family, particularly his wife, who holds a prominent position in child welfare. Lynda Leedy has been the Pinellas Juvenile Welfare Board’s chief administrative officer for 10 years—a position that involves protecting the very population her husband is accused of exploiting.
“The arrest and allegations came as a complete shock to all, including his wife,” the board said in a statement. The organization emphasized that “Ms. Leedy is a valued member of the Executive Leadership Team where she holds herself and others to the highest standards of ethical and professional behavior and possesses impeccable integrity.”
The irony of the situation—a man accused of exploiting children married to a woman whose career involves protecting children—adds another layer of tragedy to an already devastating case. The Juvenile Welfare Board expressed confidence in Lynda Leedy’s ability to continue her work despite the personal crisis.
