Former Acting President of Southern Vermont College Kills Self

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - The former acting president of Southern Vermont College has killed himself after being accused of embezzling $400,000 from the school.

Vermont State Police say James Beckwith was found dead in his home Wednesday of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Beckwith, the former chief financial officer and chief operating officer of the small liberal arts school, was accused of taking the money between October 2012 and January, depositing it into his personal account, and using $260,000 to pay down two mortgages on his South Londonderry home.

The U.S. Attorney's office said Thursday it filed a complaint alleging the home and account are forfeitable as proceeds of mail fraud and as property involved in money laundering.

When questioned about the matter, Beckwith resigned from the college on Feb. 3.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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