Mill Valley music teacher, Darren Smith, 55, is found dead days after he was arrested on suspicions of child sex abuse

A California music teacher has been found dead only a day after he was arrested on suspicion of the sexual abuse and molestation of a child under the age of 14.

Darren Smith, 55, from Fairfax, who taught music at Mill Valley Middle School, north of San Francisco, was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of lewd and lascivious acts with a child and the continuous sexual abuse of a child.

When school district officials became aware of the allegations, they contacted the Sheriff's Office and placed Smith on administrative leave. 

But less than 24 hours later, on Wednesday evening, Smith's body was recovered from the waters off Drakes Beach at Point Reyes National Seashore.

Emergency services were notified after someone on the shoreline spotted what they believed to be a surfer who had possibly been washed out to sea at Point Reyes. 

California music teacher Darren Smith, 55, was arrested on Tuesday following a report that the school district filed with the Marin County Sheriff's Office

His body was found dead in the waters  off of Drakes Beach on Point Reyes near San Francisco a day after his arrest on suspicion of sexually abusing a child

The man was last seen at around 10am on Wednesday with his surfboard washing ashore a few hours later at 1pm.

First responders from the National Park Service, U.S. Coast Guard, Marin County Fire Department, and the Sonoma and Marin sheriff's offices then began an 'exhaustive' search for the man.

By 5:30pm, the body was found floating in the ocean and was later identified as being Smith. 

An autopsy and toxicology test was conducted on Friday with the exact cause of Smith's death to be determined. 

The Sheriff's Office said Mill Valley Unified School District had notified them of the allegations and placed Smith on administrative leave. 

Smith had been employed by the district since August 2013 and taught music in kindergarten through fifth grade at Mill Valley Middle School

Smith's arrest came 'after a thorough investigation of the allegations, including forensic interviews and evaluation of evidence with detectives developing probable cause to arrest Smith', police said.

Smith had been employed by the district since August 2013 and taught music in kindergarten through fifth grade. He had also previously worked for 13 years as a music teacher at elementary schools in the Alameda Unified School District.

Smith was booked into the Marin County Jail on Tuesday, where his bail had been set at $200,000.

The sheriff's office said there are two known victims in the case, but declined to say whether they are students in the school district. 

'The district has zero tolerance for any behavior that compromises the safety or well-being of our students,' district officials said in a statement on Tuesday.

Marin County Superior Court records show Smith was going to be charged with two felony counts of lewd or lascivious acts on a child and one misdemeanor count of annoying or molesting a child.

Elizabeth Kaufman, the superintendent of the Mill Valley School District, sent a letter home on Thursday to parents about Smith's death

Elizabeth Kaufman, the superintendent of the Mill Valley School District, sent a letter home on Thursday to parents about Smith's death.

'This loss comes amid unsettling news regarding Mr. Smith's recent arrest, adding a layer of complexity to the emotions we feel,' she wrote.

Kaufman said the schools have counselors and other staff members who can assist students who 'need help processing' the news about Smith's death. 

'Thank you for your compassion and understanding as we navigate these challenging times together,' Kaufman said. 'Let us hold Mr. Smith's family and loved ones in our thoughts as they face this loss.'