Ohio Sex Offender, 2 Others Accused of Faking His Suicide After Missing Court Deadline [Video]

A registered Ohio sex offender and two others are accused of faking the former’s suicide by claiming to have seen him fall into a lake as part of a hoax that took up resources from multiple law enforcement agencies and required the use of three dive teams in the bogus search.

Breanna Watkins, 28, and Matthew Hunt, 43, face charges of inducing panic, making false alarms, obstructing justice, and falsification. The man they allegedly claimed had tried to kill himself is Richard Newlen, 40, a registered sex offender. He faces charges of tampering with evidence, inducing panic, and making false alarms, online court records show.

Watkins and Hunt Claimed Newlen Fell into the Lake While Fishing, Left a Suicide Note

The case came to light on Aug. 25 when Watkins and Hunt claimed Newlen fell into the lake at Friendship Park in Steubenville, officials said. Newlen even left a suicide …