TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Police in Tuscaloosa say a man who was convicted of sexually abusing a young girl may have committed suicide after a jury found him guilty.
Sgt. Dale Phillips says 42-year-old William Thomas Moore put something in his mouth shortly after the verdict was read Monday and told court staff it was his daily medication.
Moore was taken to the county jail to await sentencing and began having a medical emergency. Authorities say the man was later pronounced dead at the DCH Regional Medical Center.
Officials are unsure of exactly what Moore swallowed in the courtroom and say an autopsy should reveal what the substance was on Tuesday.
Moore was indicted in late 2011 and faced up to 20 years in prison.