Man wanted in lewdness with minor case was Reno teacher

RENO — Washoe County School District officials have confirmed that a suspect in a lewdness with a minor case who was found dead before police could arrest him was a teacher for the district.

Thirty-six-year-old Eric Zika was accused of groping a girl who came to the front door of his Reno home in February to collect donations for a school project.

Police said Zika, a teacher at a Reno middle school, was found dead on March 18 in Willows, California. Details about his death have not yet been released.

Police had issued a warrant for Zika’s arrest after interviewing him and the alleged victim. The warrant had not yet been served at the time of his death.

Records show Zika did not have a criminal history of lewdness or similar charges.