BOSTON -- Patrick McSorley, 29, an outspoken victim of clergy sex abuse, was reportedly found dead inside a North End apartment early Monday morning, according to McSorley's attorney, Mitchell Garabedian.

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Attorney Talks About McSorley

Police have not yet confirmed McSorley's death, but Garabedian said there is an ongoing police investigation.

"I received a phone call from the Boston Police Department at 4:45 a.m. telling me that Patrick McSorley had passed away. That's all I know at this point in time," Garabedian said.

He said he was unaware if there was any indication of foul play and he said he does not believe the apartment in which McSorley was found was his home address.

Garabedian said he last spoke to McSorley at about 3:30 p.m. Friday and they were scheduled to meet Monday.

"We just talked about clergy sexual abuse matters and he was going to come in and we were going to discuss the status of clergy sexual abuse matters. As you know, Patrick was interested in clergy sex abuse matters, being a survivor himself. Patrick is a hero to victims out there and he's been acknowledged as a hero and it's truly sad. His loss is truly sad," Garabedian said.

"Patrick is a loving son, a caring father and a hero to victims out there," he added.

McSorley was a victim of defrocked priest John Geoghan, [pictured right] whose case triggered widespread revelations of clergy sex abuse in the Boston Archdiocese over the last 40 years. Geoghan was convicted of abuse and killed in prison last August.

McSorley was arrested on drug charges last July after nearly drowning in a fall into the Neponset River. At the time he had been living in Taunton, Mass., with his girlfriend and his young son. After his recovery, he denied rumors that he may have tried to commit suicide.

"I did not try to take my own life because I am a victim of sexual molestation. I want people to know that it was not a suicide and I want other victims to know that is not the way to go. Suicide is not the way out. I wouldn't commit suicide over a priest," McSorley said at the time.

In 1986, when McSorley was 12, his father committed suicide. Geoghan stopped by to offer condolences and allegedly molested the boy. McSorley's was one of hundreds of lawsuits filed against the archdiocese alleging abuse. The church settled with 86 plaintiffs, including McSorley, for $10 million in 2002.

In the past two years, McSorley emerged as an outspoken critic of the church's handling of the sex abuse crisis, castigating church officials for moving abusive priests from parish to parish instead of keeping them away from contact with children.