Former police chief facing child molestation trial found dead

A former West Columbia police chief was found dead Thursday days before he was to face trial on allegations of sexual assault of a child.

Michael Palmer, was found unresponsive about 3:45 p.m. in the back yard of his home in the 600 block of Roene Lane in West Columbia, according to the West Columbia Police Department.

Police said paramedics were unable to revive Palmer. The Galveston County medical examiner is scheduled to perform an autopsy.

A trial was scheduled to begin next week for Palmer connected to allegations of sexual assault of a child, said Chief Paul Odin of the West Columbia Police Department.

Palmer disappeared after he was indicted in the case in 2013, but Odin said he returned a couple of weeks later.