Texas Doctor Found Dead Before Child Sex Abuse Sentencing

A Texas doctor has been found dead just a few days prior to his sentencing hearing after being convicted and found guilty of sexually abusing his child patients.

Victim's Mother Expresses Lack of Closure Over Doctor's Death

Some people may believe that the death of Matt Hipke was well deserved, but it lacked the necessary closure for one of the victim's mother. When asked about Hipke's death, Heather Jolicoeur didn't express any satisfaction. Instead, she expressed a lack of closure by not getting to see Hipke receive his sentence.

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Found Dead at Home: Details Surrounding Hipke's Passing

Court records indicate that Hipke, a 62-year-old white male, pleaded guilty on March 31st. However, before he could be sentenced on Friday, April 25th, he Hipke was found dead at his Longview home. A cause of death was not released, but the police did state that there was no immediate danger to the public. It was also noted that an autopsy had been ordered.

Read More: Moody Man Sentenced for Child Sexual Abuse Material

Years of Allegations: The Timeline of Hipke's Case

The accusations against Hipke were originally filed in 2020 with some of the crimes going back as far as 2017. The first offenses that he was charged with were for continuously sexually assaulting children. The two boys were being counseled by Hipke for 18 months.

Read More: Texas Educator Arrested for Child Sex Crimes

Chilling Phone Call: Hipke's Reaction to Initial Arrest

During his initial arrest when the police were searching his office, Hipke asked the police if he could call his wife. Once she was on the phone, Hipke told his wife that he was sorry and said that it was going to ruin his career.\

Read More: Eanes ISD Teach Charged with Child Sexual Assault Material

License Suspended: Medical Board Took Action in 2020

Hipke was able to post a $1 million bond after his original arrest. The Texas Medical Board suspended his license once they were made aware of the investigation in August of 2020.