Benjamin Milfelt died while facing a felony child pornography charge. His cause and manner of death remain under investigation.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A former member of a parent-teacher association and the WATCH D.O.G.S. program at Mireles Elementary School who was accused of possessing child pornography died this week while his criminal case was still pending.

According to the Nueces County Medical Examiner’s Office, Benjamin Milfelt, 42, died July 14. Preliminary findings were not available Wednesday, and his cause and manner of death remained pending.



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Milfelt had been scheduled to appear in Nueces County’s 214th District Court for a hearing July 13. Court records show the hearing was reset, but do not list a new date. As of Wednesday, the docket had not been updated to reflect Milfelt’s death or the future status of the case.

Milfelt was arrested in April after Corpus Christi police and Homeland Security Investigations executed a search warrant at his property.

According to information previously reported by 3NEWS, investigators said they found child sexual abuse material on a cellphone recovered during the investigation.

Milfelt was charged with possession with intent to promote child pornography involving a child younger than 18. Nueces County court records list the charge as a third-degree felony. The case was filed April 22 and remained in “pre-file” status at the time of his death.

Milfelt had previously volunteered at Mireles Elementary School and served with the school’s PTA and WATCH D.O.G.S. program.

Following his arrest, Corpus Christi ISD told families that Milfelt had not been on school property since before the district was notified of the allegations.

Milfelt was later released on bond under several court-ordered conditions. During a May hearing, his attorney sought changes to those restrictions, including permission for Milfelt to visit the beach. A judge denied that request because children could be present.

The Nueces County Medical Examiner’s Office said the death investigation remains pending.