A Bozeman anesthesiologist facing serious charges related to child sexual assault took his own life while detained in a local jail.

According to a KBZK report, Jeffrey Scheihing was arrested on Nov. 25 and pronounced dead two days later. The incident has prompted an external investigation into the circumstances of his death.

Authorities confirmed that Scheihing died on Nov. 27, as determined by the coroner. The Gallatin County Sheriff's Office has handed the case to the Montana Department of Justice's Division of Criminal Investigations for further review.

Investigation Sparks from Online Activity

The probe into Scheihing began on Oct. 17, 2025, following a tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children task force. An email linked to him was used to create accounts on the Kik messaging app that held what appeared to be child pornography.

Detectives found that photos and videos of young boys were shared from these accounts on Sept. 17 and 18, 2024, as well as Nov. 16 and 26, 2024. In March 2025, Scheihing allegedly participated in explicit chats on Kik about molesting male children and shared his attractions to them with another user.

He reportedly mentioned once possessing hundreds of images and videos of boys aged 12 to 16, but claimed they were lost due to a storage failure. Investigators used a subpoena to trace the IP address back to Scheihing's home and phone number.

Details Emerge on Explicit Online Exchanges

A Montana Department of Criminal Investigations agent verified the connections through official records. This led to Scheihing's arrest on felony charges of sexual assault against children.

Undersheriff Nate Kamerman commented on the broader efforts to combat such crimes. "There is some really terrible stuff out there, but fortunately, we have a lot of really good people fighting, trying to keep kids safe, too," Kamerman said.

He also addressed the investigation's handling of the suicide. "An outside agency comes, in this case, an outside coroner also investigates as to the cause of death and whatnot. That matter has been turned over to them," Kamerman said.

Professional Background Raises Community Concerns

Scheihing worked as part of the Gallatin Valley Anesthesia Associates and held privileges at Bozeman Health Deaconess Regional Medical Center since 2019, though he was not a direct employee. Hospital policies include background checks every two years, and records showed no prior complaints or issues against him.

Medical experts noted that anesthesiologists typically have brief patient interactions and are never unsupervised with individuals. This suggests Scheihing likely had no solo contact with minor patients during his duties.

He also provided services at various regional facilities. Kamerman indicated ongoing checks for any related incidents. "Regarding workplace or anything like that that is a part of the greater investigation going on, as I said, we are taking steps from our investigation division to make sure any victims or potential victims in our community are noted and actions taken to make sure there is nothing further there," Kamerman said.

Lessons to Learn

1. Digital vigilance is critical for child safety: This case underscores how easily predatory behavior can be hidden behind seemingly harmless platforms like Kik. Parents should maintain regular conversations with their children about the risks of online interactions.

2. Even trusted professionals may engage in harm: It’s important to recognize that individuals in respected community positions can still commit crimes. Regular background checks and strong reporting mechanisms are essential, but they are not foolproof.

3. Support systems matter in the aftermath of crime: When crimes of this magnitude occur, the entire community is affected. It's important to support individuals dealing with trauma, whether they are victims or family members of those involved.

Why This Story Matters

This case raises serious concerns about child safety in digital environments and the responsibility of communities to remain vigilant. It highlights the importance of timely law enforcement intervention and transparent institutional responses. Understanding how such cases emerge can help families and institutions take stronger preventative actions in the future.

Conclusion

Jeffrey Scheihing, a longtime Bozeman anesthesiologist, became the center of a months-long child exploitation investigation that began with an ICAC referral in October 2025. Authorities linked his email and home IP address to accounts used for distributing explicit content involving minors and arrested him on November 25. Two days later, he died by suicide while in custody, prompting an oversight investigation by the state. Bozeman Health, where Scheihing had medical privileges, confirmed it had no prior contact from authorities about the case and had no internal complaints. The sheriff's office continues working to locate any potential victims and calls on parents to carefully monitor online activities in their homes.