LOVELL, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — The community remembered 28-year-old Timothy Even, a former Westbrook track coach convicted of having sex with a student, after he committed suicide on Friday, August 18, according to Maine State Police.

A statement released by Maine Public Safety Spokesperson Steve McCausland says, ‘On Friday morning at about 11 AM (Maine State Trooper Lt. Walter F. Grzyb) checked on a vehicle backed into a log landing…in Lovell near the Stoneham town line.’

The statement continues to say the deceased male found was identified as Even.

RELATED: Even appears in court 

The report states, ‘His death is not suspicious and is believed to be a suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning.  The medical examiner’s office will make the final determination. An autopsy is not expected but further testing will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.’

RELATED: Westbrook Police: Girls Track Team Coach Charged with Sexually Assaulting High School Student 

Even had worked at Westbrook High School as a track coach.

According to the police affidavit, Even told investigators that he had sexual relations with a 17-year-old three times outside at a park in Portland. The age of consent is 16 in Maine, but it is against state law to have sexual relations with a student you have authority over.

In a statement given to police at the time, Even wrote “This is a situation that started with the best of intentions. Unfortunately, my lack of professionalism and self-control created a situation that got out of hand.”

Even went on to apologize to the Westbrook School department and all others that have been harmed by this. As far as the alleged victim and her family are concerned, he wrote: “My apology will never be enough.”

Even was convicted of sexual assault of the student, resulting from the sexual relationship, according to police.

On Saturday, August 19, friends and acquaintances of Even urged the community to look past these charges and remember Even instead as the beloved track coach and mentor that he was to many.

Kate Hall, a renowned former student track athlete at Lake Region High School, met Even when training at USM as a freshman in high school. She became a mentor to Even’s students at Westbrook High School as the two worked alongside each other and became friends.

“He was just an overall amazing person. You could just tell that everyone loved him,” Hall said. “He was so funny, and as a track coach at Westbrook he got so many more athletes to join the team.”

Others took to social media to express their gratitude for Even’s work and their grievances with his passing. They all described the love his students and fellow community members had for him.

“That’s definitely how I want him to be remembered,” Hall said. “Just as that nice, loving person who everyone loved who gave back to the track world and to the community in general.”

If you or anyone you know is struggling and contemplating suicide please reach out to authorities. Maine has many ways you can seek help;

Maine Crisis Hotline
1-888-568-1112

If you are not in Maine, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-TALK (8255)

A former high school track coach who was convicted of having sex with a female student died of apparent suicide, police said.

Timothy Even, 28, was found dead Friday morning in his car. Authorities said the vehicle was backed into a log landing in Lovell, the Press Herald reports.

“His death is not suspicious and is believed to be a suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning,” state police Lt. Walter Grzyb told the outlet.

Grzyb said the medical examiner still has to make the final determination on the cause of death.

Teacher faces sex charges, became ‘obsessed’ with student

Even, who worked as a track coach for Westbrook High School, was arrested in September 2016 after a 17-year-old student’s parents went to police about explicit text messages Even and the girl had allegedly exchanged. Investigators said that the relationship began in April 2016 and continued up until Even’s arrest.

According to the Press Herald, Even initially denied the relationship.

He later told authorities that he and the student had sex on three different occasions at a park in Portland, WCSH reports.

Elite private school teacher arrested for having sex with pupil

He also apologized to the school district, the student and her family.

In Maine, the age of consent is 16 but it’s against state law to have sexual relations with a student you have authority over.

Even was convicted in December on misdemeanor counts of unlawful sexual contact and assault.