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Supreme Being
Group: Moderators
Last Login: 2 days ago @ 10:09:14 PM
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The parents of this young man are claiming (or at least implying) he was murdered to cover up a crime he witnessed. DCI says they believe it was a suicide. From what I've heard, if this was suicide, the young man must have gone to a lot of trouble to make it look like murder. Either way, it's an awful story, and my thoughts go out to the family.
 Fear the squirrels |
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| | | Forum Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 1/30/2012 10:53:39 PM
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| | It's too soon in the game to have a real idea of what's going on here. I've heard various rumors about this situation, none of which I will share on here out of respect to the victim and his family, but this story still has plenty of legs and I don't know when or if we'll ever know exactly what happened. |
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Forum Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 11:32:48 PM
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| This is the second of two emails I was sent by Drake in the last several days.
A new development in the investigation of Drake sophomore Ben Backstrom’s death occurred today when the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation announced at a news conference that he died as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The news release is posted on the Web site of the Iowa Department of Public Safety.
Law enforcement officials initially treated Ben’s death on Tuesday, April 27, in Warren County as a homicide, which is standard procedure in a suspicious death. Throughout the investigation, authorities have stressed that there has been no danger to students, faculty or staff on the Drake campus.
As president of Drake University, I want to assure you that Drake is committed to continuing to provide care, compassion and support for our students as they struggle to come to terms with Ben’s death. As the investigation proceeds, we want to express our deepest sympathies to Ben’s friends, family and the Drake community during this difficult time.
In the past week, the Drake family has come together in a variety of ways to offer one another support, solace and guidance. I personally have been very moved by the ways in which Ben’s friends, colleagues and faculty have taken ownership of one another’s grief in an effort to share the burden.
As a parent myself, I know that you are sensitive to the ways in which your student may be affected by the events of the past week, and by this latest news. Counselors are available to meet with students at the Counseling Center, located in the Student Health Building, and can be contacted at 515-271-3864. Outside of the Counseling Center’s regular operating hours, the Student Life staff is able to reach counselors at any time on behalf of students. If there is anything at all that Maddy or I can do to be of assistance personally, please do not hesitate to let us know.
If you feel that you are sensing signs of depression or other difficulties, please encourage your student to go to the Counseling Center, or contact the Counseling Center directly yourself for recommendations on the ways in which you can help him or her. In this regard, you may want to visit the Mayo Clinic Web site for information on signs of depression.
Drake University will continue to participate fully with the Warren County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation in this continuing investigation. Should you have any information on this case, call the Sheriff’s Office at 515-961-1122.
Office of the President 2507 University Avenue Des Moines IA 50311-4505
tel: 515-271-2191 fax: 515-271-3016 e-mail: president@drake.edu
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