Updated

Court records show a Delaware doctor accused of waterboarding his 11-year-old stepdaughter was tormented by personal and financial problems.

But Dr. Melvin Morse was also known as brilliant pediatrician at a renowned children's hospital in Seattle and a best-selling author who parlayed his research on near-death experiences into appearances on "Larry King Live" and "The Oprah Winfrey Show."

Based on his work involving children's out-of-body experiences, police have suggested he may have been experimenting on his daughter. An attorney for Morse says that's sheer speculation.

Morse is accused of holding the girl's face under running water at least four times since 2009. He's scheduled for a court appearance Thursday.