BANGOR, Maine — A teacher at John Bapst Memorial High School under investigation for possession of child pornography was found dead Saturday afternoon in a Bangor motel room, according to a letter sent to parents and students Saturday night.

Jeremiah Gorman, 35, of Bangor taught social science at the private school in Bangor, according to information posted on the school’s website.





Mel MacKay, head of school, said in the email that on Friday afternoon Bangor police informed the school Gorman was under investigation. His home was searched and the school was asked to open his classroom to detectives Friday night.

Sgt. Tim Cotton, spokesman for Bangor police, refused Sunday to comment on the information in MacKay’s email. Cotton said that it is the practice of the department not to release information about ongoing investigations until and unless a person is charged with a crime.

On Saturday afternoon, law enforcement informed school officials of Gorman’s death by apparent suicide, according to the email MacKay sent out about 8 p.m. Saturday.

“This has been an extraordinarily fast-developing situation in which issues of student and child safety have been at the forefront, as they must always be,” MacKay said. “At the same time, we are aware that the emotional needs of students, parents, faculty and staff, and Mr. Gorman’s own family call for our attention and support.”

Efforts to reach John Bapst students Sunday were unsuccessful.

Gorman’s Facebook page was taken down midday Sunday.

MacKay said in his email that counselors would be at school Monday for students, faculty and staff.

“School will begin on Monday on schedule at 8:30 a.m. The school day will begin with an assembly for all students, faculty and staff. A modified class schedule will follow, with continuing counseling services available to any and all who would like to take advantage of them.”

Other faculty members will teach Gorman’s classes, he said.

The news of Gorman’s death came just 10 days after the school celebrated the reopening of the Joseph W. Sekera Auditorium. It was damaged by fire Feb. 18 while students were on February break.

Gorman was member of a trivia team that regularly competed Wednesday night’s at Paddy Murphy’s Pub in downtown Bangor, according to other regular players who asked not to be identified.

Friends and acquaintances declined to comment on Gorman’s death, but he was well known throughout the Bangor community. Last year, Gorman worked with others to create “Bangor Gets Happy” video that featured more than 40 Bangor-area businesses, according to the Bangor Daily News archives.

The video showed Bangor residents, business owners, members of city-based organizations and visitors to the Queen City dancing to Pharrell Williams’ inescapable hit “Happy,” in the style of the other “Happy” videos from all over the world.

He also recently built an igloo in his Bangor neighborhood that was featured in the Bangor Daily News. Two years ago, Gorman built a replica of the cockpit of a space shuttle for his son.

Gorman earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, according to information on John Bapst’s website.