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Lake County man who attacked teen accused of raping child has died

He made headlines over a month ago when he allegedly walked in on a 17-year-old boy raping a 5-year-old.
Credit: Eastlake Police Department

Richard Adams, the man who attacked a teenager he says was sexually assaulting a 5-year-old boy, has died at the age of 20.

Eastlake police confirm Adams was found dead inside his home Monday night. While authorities suspect Adams died of a drug overdose, an official ruling has not yet been made. An autopsy will be conducted by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner.

Adams made headlines over a month ago when he allegedly walked in on a 17-year-old boy raping a 5-year-old. Adams said he went after the teen in an effort to save the child, but was still arrested and charged with felonious assault.

Members of the community were outraged at Adams' arrest, calling him a hero for acting to save the little boy. However, the Eastlake Police department responded by saying, "To attack people within the system to achieve a certain outcome is not what justice is about."

Adams later appeared in court weeks later and ended up pleading guilty to the lesser charge of misdemeanor assault, avoiding potential jail time. He had instead been placed in a program for first-time offenders.

A GoFundMe page reportedly started by Adams' uncle is now working to raise funeral expenses, with the description saying Adams "was under so much stress with the situation and so depressed." A previous GoFundMe had raised more than $40,000 prior to his guilty plea.

The 17-year-old Adams attacked has himself been charged with rape.

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