Music teacher accused of sexual abuse found dead

Cummins [FCPD]

Music teacher Jeffrey Cummins, who had been charged with eight felony counts of indecent liberties by a custodian for sexually abusing two former students in April, was found dead on June 19, the Fairfax County Police Department reports.

The body of Cummins, 56, of Annandale, was discovered in a wildlife refuge near Warsaw, Va. The Virginia State Police are investigating his death.

The Office of the Medical Examiner in Richmond will complete an examination and autopsy. At this stage of the investigation, no foul play is suspected.

Cummins Detectives from our FCPD Major Crimes Bureau began their investigation in May 2018 when a juvenile disclosed being inappropriately touched by Cummins over a period of several years. In January, another victim came forward and also disclosed being abused for several years by Cummins.

Detectives discovered four additional victims who came forward and disclosed they had also been sexually abused by Cummins between 1987 to 2017. On Tuesday, June 18, nine additional felony warrants were obtained for Cummins. The charges included eight counts of indecent liberties by a custodian and one count of aggravated sexual battery.

Arrangements were made for Cummins to turn himself in through his attorney. He was expected to surrender to detectives at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center Tuesday afternoon, but he never arrived.

Cummins was a private music teacher and gave lessons in his home in Annandale. He was also the founder and artistic director of Virginia Music Adventures, a traveling music group for school-age children. The investigation showed that the sexual abuse occurred both during music lessons and at other times when the juveniles were at his home.

Cummins was the owner of two Huntington Learning Centers, one located in Tysons and one in Springfield. He taught at Langley School in McLean, Green Hedges School in Vienna, and Washington Episcopal School in Bethesda, Md.