Update 12/15/17

On Friday the widow of a Kentucky Lawmaker who took his life spoke to the media.

Bullitt County Representative Dan Johnson died on Wednesday.

Just one day earlier he addressed allegations he molested at teenage member of his church in 2013. Johnson denied the allegations and said he would not resign from the state house.

Rebecca Johnson calls it a media frenzy and told WDRB in Louisville she thinks her husband got tired of fighting.

"The media has been bullying people, and it's not right, and there's no rebuttal, you know? There's no redemption. once they get out and start whipping you, it's over," said Johnson.

She says she wants to finish her late husband's term.

The seat will be vacant until a special election can be held.

Original Story:

A Republican lawmaker in Kentucky facing sexual assault allegations has committed suicide.

Bullitt County Sheriff Donnie Tinnell says Rep. Dan Johnson shot himself Wednesday on a bridge in Mount Washington, Kentucky. Tinnell confirmed the death to WDRB-TV in Louisville. WLKY is also reporting the suicide.

The 57-year-old Johnson was elected to the state legislature in 2016. On Monday, the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting published an account from a woman saying Johnson sexually assaulted her in the basement of his home in 2013. Louisville police investigated the matter but closed the case and did not file charges.

Johnson's wife, Rebecca Johnson, says she will seek to replace him in the state legislature.

She made the announcement in a news release sent to The Associated Press. In the release, Rebecca Johnson referred to her husband's death as a "high-tech lynching based on lies and half-truths."

The Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting published a story earlier this week detailing accusations that Johnson sexually assaulted a 17-year-old girl in 2013. Police had investigated the matter but did not file charges. The story prompted police to re-open the investigation.

Dan Johnson told reporters Tuesday the accusations were "totally false." He posted a message on Facebook Monday night saying that PTSD "is a sickness that will take my life, I cannot handle it any longer. It has won this life, BUT HEAVEN IS MY HOME."

Governor Bevin tweeted after hearing the news Wednesday night.

Lawmakers offered their condolences after hearing the news on Thursday.

“I think we all need to do some soul searching of whether or not is worth it if it’s worth being hounded to the point of suicide,” said Representative Wesley Morgan.

Morgan says Johnson was a quick friend in Frankfort after the both were elected back in November. Morgan says he spoke to Johnson hours before his death at that he seemed perfectly normal and ready to fight the claims that he sexually assaulted a teenage girl. Morgan still wonders if his colleague was innocent.

“I pray to God it wasn’t true but for someone to take their life one has to think something was there,” said Morgan.

Johnson served part of Bullitt County after he won the 49th district seat in a contested race by less than one percent.

In Mount Washington, the home of Johnson, the Mayor described the mood as “solemn” today.

“Dan was well-presented, nice-looking guy, spoke well, had all kinds of personality. That's what I saw in him. .... I am very sad for his family, his children, his grandchildren and my heart goes out to them,” said Barry Armstrong, the mayor of Mount Washington.

Earlier Thursday, our sister station WKYT interviewed the executive editor at Louisville Public Media.

The group owns the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting. Stephen George, the editor for KYRIC told them learning of Johnson’s death is one of their worst days.

"We did not expect this. We did not foresee it. We did not plan for it. It is all around an absolute tragedy. Like a lot of people in our community and our state today, we're pretty shaken by this,” said George.

We will continue to update this story.