Robert Livingston, a 54-year-old assistant county attorney from Gainesville, Florida, was found dead on August 30, 2016. His death was ruled a suicide by the Alachua County Sheriff's Office. Livingston's body was discovered in a canoe on Newnans Lake, having died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The discovery followed a search initiated after Livingston rented a canoe from Kate’s Fish Camp on the evening of August 29 and failed to return.
Deputies found him the next morning, and despite their efforts to save him, Livingston succumbed to his injuries.
Livingston's death came shortly after his arrest on August 24, 2016, on charges of attempted sexual battery on a child and child abuse. He was released on a $50,000 bond. The charges stemmed from allegations that he had inappropriately touched a 17-year-old girl in June of that year. The girl reported the abuse to Melissa Livingston, Robert's wife, who was also charged with child abuse for her role in the incident. The investigation revealed that another young woman had accused Robert Livingston of molesting her several times over a one-year period in 2012.
The case against Livingston was still unfolding at the time of his death. The Gainesville Police Department had collected evidence from his home, including electronics, which could have led to additional charges. The allegations and subsequent arrest had a profound impact on Livingston, who had worked for the county for about 20 years and was on administrative leave pending the outcome of the case. His colleagues and community members expressed shock and sorrow over the tragic events, highlighting the need for better mental health support.
Livingston's suicide brought an abrupt end to the legal proceedings against him. The charges against him and his wife, Melissa, were part of a broader investigation into the abuse allegations. The case underscored the complexities and challenges of addressing such serious accusations within the legal system, and the profound personal toll it can take on those involved.
