Aaron Swartz, co-founder of Reddit, dead at 26

HIGHLAND PARK - Aaron Swartz, co-founder of the popular information website Reddit.com and part of the RSS feed system's designer team, was found dead in his Brooklyn home Saturday after apparently hanging himself. Swartz, 26, was born and raised in north suburban Highland Park, where he will be buried Tuesday.

Swartz was an information and internet activist, and was facing $1 million in fines and 35 years in prison for allegedly stealing articles and papers via internet from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's academic journal archives. His criminal trial was to begin later this year.

In a statement issued, Swartz' family and partner blame the Massachusetts US Attorney's office and the MIT for Swartz' death:

"Aaron's death is not simply a personal tragedy, it is the product of a criminal justice system rife with intimidation and prosecutorial overreach. Decisions made by officials in the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney’s office and at MIT contributed to his death." ^.