The father of Jordy Chandler, a boy who accused Michael Jackson of sexual abuse, has committed suicide.

Evan Chandler, 65, was found by a concierge in his New Jersey apartment after the alarm was raised when he missed a doctors' appointment. The former Beverly Hills dentist was found in bed with a gunshot wound to his head. His death is being treated as suicide.

Police said: "We have ruled it as suicide because he was found with a gun held to his body. He had a single bullet wound to the side of his head.

In 1993, Mr Chandler accused Mr Jackson on behalf of his then-13-year-old son of child molestation.

He and Jordy brought a civil lawsuit against the late singer who reportedly settled the case out of court for £12 million, although Mr Jackson always denied wrongdoing.

Evan Mr Chandler was believed to be estranged from his son, now 29, after Mr Jackson settled with them to stop the allegations.

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