Woodlands softball coach commits suicide after sexual assault allegation

THE WOODLANDS (FOX 26) - When a Woodlands High School student, who is a juvenile teenage girl, went to police claiming she was in a sexual relationship with her 54-year-old softball coach, cops searched Richard Jorgensen's Woodlands house ready to make an arrest.  But the longtime teacher wasn't home.  Instead of facing the felony charge, police say he committed suicide in his hometown of Port Arthur.  He was found shot to death in a pick-up truck Friday morning. 

“Obviously these parents, this is their worst nightmare come true.  It's tragic, tragedy all the way around.  It's tragedy for the victim. It's tragedy for the family of Mr. Jorgensen.  This is something they're going to have to live with,” said Chief Deputy Matthew Rodrigue with the Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constable’s Office.

Jorgensen was the Woodlands High School head softball coach for almost 12 years and an 8-time district coach of the year.  His team won the national championship in 2011.  Now students at the high school are reacting to the shocking news.

“It was really, really surprising.  My friends have all said that he was really flirty with a lot of the girls in his classes,” said Julio Castellanos, a senior at the high school.  “I think I have to be more careful about me being at school, because you don't know who you're dealing with,” said senior Isabella Velasco.

The Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constables Office believes the abuse happened "more than once." And now a second young victim has come forward.  The police are urging any other possible victims to come forward so they can get assistance, like counseling, if necessary. 

“As a parent I'm shocked,” said Lynda McBeth who lives in the coach's neighborhood.  Her two daughters went to The Woodland High School.  “Humiliated, embarrassed, he probably thought that was easier than him put his family through what he was going to have to go through,” she said.

Coach Jorgensen was a married father of three. Attorney Dan Cogdell was going to represent him in court on that felony charge of Sexual Assault of a child which is now no longer necessary. 

“On behalf of the Jorgensen family, they would just, obviously, like everybody to respect their privacy.  It's a nightmare scenario for them.  No one would ever imagine either Rick or the family ever going through anything like this," said Cogdell.

The Woodlands softball game scheduled for Friday night has been canceled.