MOUNT DORA, Fla. — Students and staff at Mount Dora High School were reeling Thursday as they prepared to hold a vigil following the death of a well-liked teacher at the school.
The death is believed to be drug related, officials said.
Marvin Powell Jr., 44, was found dead in his apartment Monday when deputies arrived to conduct a welfare check.
No information was released on what prompted the check.
When they found Powell, deputies said they also found pills, a white powdery substance and two syringes filled with an unknown substance.
Student Emily Febo was devastated by Powell’s death.
“We could relate to him,” she said. “He was really understanding of his students and he put a lot of time into us.”
According to an obituary released by Holdship Funeral Home in Michigan, Powell had been a history teacher at Mount Dora High School for 10 years.
A vigil was scheduled to take place outside the school at 8 p.m. Thursday.
Cox Media Group
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