Lincoln University says independent review shows no evidence of misconduct in administrator suicide
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Independent investigators could find no evidence that Lincoln University played a role in an administrator's death by suicide.
Lincoln University released the results of the independent investigation into Bonnie Candia-Bailey's death Thursday. Lincoln curators hired the Lewis Rice law firm for the review in January.
Candia-Bailey was the vice president of student affairs at Lincoln. She died Jan. 8 and wrote a memo that day outlining complaints against university President John Moseley. Moseley volunteered to go on paid leave during the investigation. The curators have now reinstated him.
Students have held several on-campus protests this year in response to Candia-Bailey's death.
“This third-party investigation was independent and thorough, and members of the Board and I are confident in its conclusions that no claims of bullying by the University President can be substantiated, and that the University responded appropriately to requests for accommodation,” Rod Chapel, president of the Missouri NAACP State Conference and special counsel to the Board of Curators, said in a statement.
“While this independent report clarifies the facts about legal and procedural concerns that have been raised, it does not make Dr. Candia-Bailey’s death any less tragic for her loved ones or our University community and we continue to grieve her loss as we work with students and employees to strengthen Lincoln University moving forward.”
Lincoln's news release says the university will work to improve its mental health response for employees and students and implement better training for university leadership.
The investigation report says all claims of bullying made by Candia-Bailey were "unsubstantiated." The firm says it conducted interviews and reviewed thousands of texts and emails.
