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Scott Rogers: Shot TV host faced grand jury appearance | Scott Rogers: Shot TV host faced grand jury appearance |
(2 days later) | |
A British man shot dead in the United States was due to appear before a grand jury on the day he was killed. | A British man shot dead in the United States was due to appear before a grand jury on the day he was killed. |
Scott Rogers, a US talkshow host and former UK dance teacher, was found dead at his home in Louisiana last week. | Scott Rogers, a US talkshow host and former UK dance teacher, was found dead at his home in Louisiana last week. |
Police said Mr Rogers was thought to have been shot by son-in-law and ex-lover Mathew Hodgkinson. Mr Hodgkinson, 36, then shot himself, police believe. | Police said Mr Rogers was thought to have been shot by son-in-law and ex-lover Mathew Hodgkinson. Mr Hodgkinson, 36, then shot himself, police believe. |
Mr Rogers, 52, left the UK in the mid-1990s after an arts academy he founded in Suffolk was likened to a "cult". | Mr Rogers, 52, left the UK in the mid-1990s after an arts academy he founded in Suffolk was likened to a "cult". |
Brett Stassi, Iberville Parish sheriff, said police recently became aware of Mr Rogers' past, including the fact he had been cleared of offences against a boy in the UK. | Brett Stassi, Iberville Parish sheriff, said police recently became aware of Mr Rogers' past, including the fact he had been cleared of offences against a boy in the UK. |
'Wire fraud' | 'Wire fraud' |
Mr Rogers is thought to have used "false" information by not declaring the fact he had been arrested when applying to become a foster parent in the US. | Mr Rogers is thought to have used "false" information by not declaring the fact he had been arrested when applying to become a foster parent in the US. |
"After all this information about what happened in the UK came out, they might have used false names when he applied for the foster children; a false name on the adoption would come up as wire fraud and mail fraud," said Mr Stassi. | "After all this information about what happened in the UK came out, they might have used false names when he applied for the foster children; a false name on the adoption would come up as wire fraud and mail fraud," said Mr Stassi. |
American authorities removed two children from the Rogers family home in Iberville - where Mr Hodgkinson also lived - about two weeks before the shooting. | American authorities removed two children from the Rogers family home in Iberville - where Mr Hodgkinson also lived - about two weeks before the shooting. |
A case had been due to be heard before a grand jury on the day of Mr Rogers' murder, the sheriff said. | A case had been due to be heard before a grand jury on the day of Mr Rogers' murder, the sheriff said. |
Mr Hodgkinson, who was married to Mr Rogers' daughter Kimmy, joined Mr Rogers in America to work as a producer on the Around Town Show aired by WAFB-TV. | Mr Hodgkinson, who was married to Mr Rogers' daughter Kimmy, joined Mr Rogers in America to work as a producer on the Around Town Show aired by WAFB-TV. |
The producer was a former student of Mr Rogers at the 52-year-old's dance and arts academy in Bury St Edmunds. | The producer was a former student of Mr Rogers at the 52-year-old's dance and arts academy in Bury St Edmunds. |
'Tightening noose' | 'Tightening noose' |
After the shooting last Wednesday, a note was found next to the bed in which Mr Rogers was killed, which read: "They broke our happy, loving home. They do not get to take Scott as well." | After the shooting last Wednesday, a note was found next to the bed in which Mr Rogers was killed, which read: "They broke our happy, loving home. They do not get to take Scott as well." |
Police believe the note was penned by Mr Hodgkinson, who remains in the Our Lady of the Lake University hospital in a critical condition after apparently turning the gun on himself. | Police believe the note was penned by Mr Hodgkinson, who remains in the Our Lady of the Lake University hospital in a critical condition after apparently turning the gun on himself. |
Forensic tests are being carried out on the note. | Forensic tests are being carried out on the note. |
Police have also been granted a warrant to seize security footage, computers and mobile phones belonging to Mr Rogers. | Police have also been granted a warrant to seize security footage, computers and mobile phones belonging to Mr Rogers. |
Since his death, two British men have come forward to claim they were abused by Mr Rogers. | Since his death, two British men have come forward to claim they were abused by Mr Rogers. |
Mr Stassi said his officers were aware of the allegations. | Mr Stassi said his officers were aware of the allegations. |
"As the noose started tightening the layers of the onion started peeling away, exposing him to what happened in the UK - it brought to light more to this man," said Mr Stassi. | "As the noose started tightening the layers of the onion started peeling away, exposing him to what happened in the UK - it brought to light more to this man," said Mr Stassi. |
"You've got to understand this man, over here, people had given him badges and awards, he worked as a chaplain for a sheriff's department, he was the 'in crowd' type guy. | "You've got to understand this man, over here, people had given him badges and awards, he worked as a chaplain for a sheriff's department, he was the 'in crowd' type guy. |
"I've said before he was hiding in plain view - he wasn't behind the camera he was in front of it. | "I've said before he was hiding in plain view - he wasn't behind the camera he was in front of it. |
"Wednesday afternoon is when this was all going to be out of the bag at the grand jury." | "Wednesday afternoon is when this was all going to be out of the bag at the grand jury." |
'Too many sleeping pills' | 'Too many sleeping pills' |
Days before the shooting Sheriff Stassi said his deputies were called to Mr Rogers' home over concerns of an "attempted suicide". | Days before the shooting Sheriff Stassi said his deputies were called to Mr Rogers' home over concerns of an "attempted suicide". |
He told the BBC: "The week before the shooting we got a call from Mathew that Scott may have taken too many sleeping pills - a possible suicide attempt. | He told the BBC: "The week before the shooting we got a call from Mathew that Scott may have taken too many sleeping pills - a possible suicide attempt. |
"When my deputy got to Scott he jumped up and said he'd taken a couple of extra pills as he was having trouble sleeping." | "When my deputy got to Scott he jumped up and said he'd taken a couple of extra pills as he was having trouble sleeping." |
In 1995, BBC Look East reported that Suffolk County Council had "taken the unusual step" of issuing a warning to parents about the Academy of Dance and Performing Arts in Bury St Edmunds. | |
There were claims of an "unhealthy atmosphere" similar to "a religious or supposedly religious cult" at the school founded by Mr Rogers, the East Anglian Daily Times has reported. | There were claims of an "unhealthy atmosphere" similar to "a religious or supposedly religious cult" at the school founded by Mr Rogers, the East Anglian Daily Times has reported. |