Dentist arrested in child sexual abuse case dies in LV hospital

SMITHFIELD, Utah — A Utah dentist arrested on a child sexual abuse charge has died in a Las Vegas hospital of an apparent drug overdose in a case that’s similar to an earlier one involving his brother.

Smithfield police Chief Johnny McCoy said Scott Lyman died Tuesday at the hospital, nearly two weeks after his arrest on suspicion of forcible sexual abuse.

The circumstances were similar to those involving his brother, Matthew Lyman, another Smithfield dentist who killed himself after serving prison time in a sex abuse case.

Matthew Lyman, 38, pleaded guilty in 2007 to fondling two female patients while they were anesthetized.

Scott Lyman was arrested Feb. 25 on suspicion of sexually abusing a girl under the age of 14 who was not a patient.

The arrest was made hours after the girl came forward with the allegations.

Prosecutors had not filed charges against Scott Lyman and were reviewing his case at the time of his death.

Scott Lyman was put on life support on March 8, but was taken off the machines on Tuesday and died a short time later, McCoy said.

While the initial evidence points to an overdose, a medical examiner in Nevada will conduct an autopsy and toxicology exam to pinpoint the cause of death, the police chief said.