A VULNERABLE American student, who spent nine days in police custody after befriending "lone wolf" dissident republican Christine Connor, has been found dead, two days after being reported missing.
Zachary Gevelinger, is thought to have taken his own life having gone missing from his home in Dodgeville Wisconsin on Wednesday, the same day Connor, appeared in court in Belfast and pleaded guilty to offences, including the attempted murder of police officers.
Connor's co-accused, 31-year-old Stuart Downes from Shrewsbury in England, also took his own life in June last year while out on bail.
In October, Shropshire coroner John Ellery said the "possible outcome of the criminal proceedings had been weighing heavily" on Stuart Downes mind.
At a previous court hearing police said Connor had convinced Downes "a person with no previous terrorist links or even republican sympathies, to become involved in this case."
While on bail, Downes received a bullet in the post, thought to have been sent to deter him from giving evidence in the case.
Both Gevelinger and Downes are believed to have coversed with Connor through private message using a fake profile.
The account used pictures of blonde Swedish model and fashion blogger Sanne Andersson, who bears no resemblence Connor, to befriend men online.
Gevelinger had travelled to Ireland in June 2013 to visit Connor in Hydebank women's prison having befriended her through the Facebook account.
On leaving the hour long visit he was arrested by police in the prison car park and taken Antrim Serious Crime suite for questioning about paramilitary activity.
He was held for nine days, under anti terror legislation, that allows the PSNI to keep suspects for up to 28 days without charge.
Hours after being released he was admitted to the hospital suffering a panic attack and flew back to the US the following day.
Mr Gevelinger was reported missing on Wednesday, friends had launched an online appeal for information, saying he was last seen after leaving for a nightshift at his job in the University of Wisconsin, Platteville.
His body was found in the city of Platteville, around 30 miles from his Wisconsin home on Friday.
Speaking to the Irish News last night, a spokesman for Platteville Police Department said that the sudden death was "still under investigation" but was not being treated as suspicious.
"We're still waiting for the results of an autopsy" the spokesman said, adding that at this stage his death "would appear to have been self inflicted."
A memorial Mass for the 28-year-old, who married last year, will take place at St Joseph's Church in Dodgeville on Thursday before burial in the adjoining cemetery.
Christine Connor, whose address cannot be reported for legal reasons, will be sentenced on June 20.
