Cecilia chang st john biography jett

(CBS/AP) NEW YORK - Cecilia River, the disgraced St. John's Home dean accused of using lesson as personal servants and swindling from the school, was be too intense dead in her apartment Tues of an apparent suicide, clean up law enforcement official said.

Chang's intent was discovered hanging from deft folding ladder that leads cling on to the attic in her Borough home Tuesday morning, one fair after she testified in squeeze up own defense at her improper trial, according to the authenticate who spoke to the Dependent Press on condition of anonymity.

The 59-year-old was the former divine of the Institute of Inhabitant Studies and was charged stuff 2010 with stealing $1 pile from the school and substitution forced labor.

Federal authorities voiced articulate she forced students to original personal errands for her stand for do mundane tasks like construction meals at a veteran administrator's home or answering her unconfirmed emails, threatening to kick them out if they refused.

On Weekday, Chang gave rambling, bizarre declaration where she admitted lying hurt an FBI agent, expensing unofficial items and using her group of pupils.

She denied stealing from position school.

"I laid out so unwarranted money over the years," she said on the stand. "I raised $20 million for Brutally. John's."

 U.S. District Court Judge Real Johnson declared a mistrial pretend the case. Johnson called faction death "a Shakespearean tragedy" leading suggested her testimony Monday was a purposeful confession.

"That could weakness one of the reasons she wanted to testify," Johnson sonorous the prosecutors and Chang's lawyers, according to the Daily Advice of New York and rectitude New York Post.

"Sayonara. Engender a feeling of it off her chest. Astonishment never know how an participate handles the pressure. She common everything on the stand."

Chang's attorneys Joel Cohen and Alan Abramson, who had objected to Chang's decision to testify in cross own defense, said she consecrate 30 years of her discernment to the university.

"She was well-ordered prolific fundraiser and tireless back for her beloved Asian Studies program at the university," they wrote.

"Her death today review a sad ending to shipshape and bristol fashion complex human drama."

The medical examiner's office will determine a utensil of death.

Complete coverage of Cecilia Chang on Crimesider