How Did Mark Salling Die? Shamed Glee Actor Found Dead Aged 35 ...

How did Mark Salling die? Shamed Glee actor found dead aged 35 while awaiting sentencing for child sex abuse images

The Glee actor's body was discovered near his home in Los Angeles, according to US reports

Comments3amLucy Needham Deputy Head of Showbiz and Vicki Newman Assistant Showbiz Editor18:41, 30 Jan 2018Updated 09:24, 31 Jan 2018

Mark Salling has died at the age of 35 after pleading guilty to the possession of child sex abuse images.

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According to TMZ , Salling's body was discovered by a riverbed near his home in Sunland-Tujunga, Los Angeles.

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Although the cause of his death has not been officially confirmed, sources in the US claim the actor hanged himself.

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Salling was awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography last December.

US media reported that the children featured in the 50,000 images found in the actor's possession were between three and five years of age.

The actor was on bail for the charges and was expected to receive his sentencing in March this year.

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The actor, who played Noah 'Puck' Puckerman on the hit Fox show, struck a plea deal in the case in October.

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Under the deal, prosecutors agreed that the appropriate sentence for Salling would be four to seven years in prison, with 20 years of supervised release, according to US reports.

Police were reportedly tipped off about the images on his computer by one of his ex-girlfriends.

He was arrested in December 2015 and later released on bail for $20,000.

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The case was then passed onto federal authorities when police realised the severity of the images.

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As part of Salling's release, he was registered as a sex offender and not allowed to live within view of any school yards, parks, public swimming pools, playgrounds, video arcades, or any other places that are regularly visited by people under the age of 18.

Disgraced Glee star dies aged 35

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Lieutenant Andrea Grossman, commander of the LAPD Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, said at the time: "It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do, if you hurt a child you will be held accountable."

She added: "These images are more than photographs, they are child abuse."

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In August 2017 it was alleged the actor had tried to take his own life before accepting a plea bargain on the child porn case.

It's said that the shamed Glee star cut his wrists in an attempted suicide in the bedroom of his LA home on August 22.

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Salling apparently "freaked out" after doing it, before screaming for his roommate who found him bleeding and called for emergency services.

Paramedics rushed to his home where they treated him before taking him to hospital, reported TMZ .

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