Police: Wayzata Teacher, Coach Arrested For Child Porn Dies

PLYMOUTH, Minn. (WCCO) – Police say a popular Minnesota teacher took his own life after officers arrested him for having child pornography.

Last month, police arrested Jeffrey Todd Miller, 52, after a search at his home. Two days later, investigators learned he'd killed himself.

Police are now looking for help in finding out if any of the children he taught were victims.

Plymouth Police Chief Mike Goldstein said the hearts of many in his community are heavy.

"The reality is Jeff Miller was a tenured teacher within the district, well respected and somewhat beloved by a lot of people," he said.

Goldstein was one of many who knew Miller.

From 1995 to 2005, he taught third, fourth and fifth grades at Greenwood Elementary. From 2005 to 2013, he taught fifth grade at Oakwood Elementary. For the past two years, Miller was a peer coach, helping other teachers at Gleason Lake and Plymouth Creek schools.

Goldstein said it was one of his officers, working with the Internet Crimes Against Children task force, who discovered the illegal images.

"We had learned that an IP address within our community was receiving images of child pornography," Goldstein said.

Investigators tracked the images to Miller and his home in Plymouth.

"On January 27, our department executed a search warrant there," Goldstein said. "Jeff Miller was arrested and a number of electronics were confiscated."

Two days later, Miller took his own life.

Because of Miller's work with children, police are trying to figure out if there are any local victims.

"We are asking folks to come forward if there are any issues or inappropriate actions that occurred with any of our community's children and Jeff Miller," Goldstein said.

Officials in the Wayzata School district are working with investigators.

No images were found on Miller's school computer and police do not believe there are local victims but say they have to investigate to make sure.