Fired Jeffco schools chief died of apparent suicide while under investigation, police say

A Jeffco Public Schools chief who was fired while under investigation for allegedly possessing child sexual abuse material died in a Maryland national historic park from an apparent suicide, sheriff’s officials said Friday.

David Weiss, 47,, of Morrison was found dead at Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park in Williamsport, Maryland, just after 9:30 a.m. on New Year’s Day, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

Sheriff’s officials responded to the park after receiving a 911 call, Captain Josh McCauley said in an email. The agency declined to release further information about the case because of the ongoing investigation.

Weiss was in Maryland visiting family for the holidays, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

Weiss’ official cause and manner of death will be determined after an autopsy by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore, which can take up to 90 days.

Weiss was fired from his position as Jeffco’s Chief of Schools in December after the sheriff’s office began investigating him, according to previous reporting. The investigation will continue, Jefferson County officials said Thursday.

This is a developing story and may be updated.