Grinnell PD, Crady provide update

By Cid Standifer

On Tuesday at approximately 3:45 p.m. the Grinnell Police Department issued a press release stating that the dental records of the body found in the Grinnell Country Club pool matched those of Paul Shuman-Moore '09. The release also states that there is "no compelling evidence to indicate foul play," and further information will be released as it becomes available.

Steve Moore and Betsy Shuman-Moore were quoted in the release: "For the past six months, we have hoped and prayed that our dear son Paul was alive. Now that he has been found, we are devastated." Paul's family thanked the media for their help in the search for Paul, but asked that now "they respect our need to grieve in private."

Vice President of Student Affairs Tom Crady spoke to the media shortly after the Police Department’s announcement. Crady talked about the reaction of the college and described steps that will be taken to support students as they work through this tragedy. Crady said that Student Affairs has been discussing ways to help the student body grieve if a body were found since Shuman-Moore disappeared in September, but they were still not prepared for the recent news.

"We weren't planning on a death response three days ago," Crady said. "What we were planning for was how to help Paul's family and figure out where he might have gone ... so we were very surprised."

Crady said he understands that many other members of the campus community are having trouble dealing with the news, even though some students have long believed that Shuman-Moore was no longer alive. "I think there's been a long time for people to mentally prepare for it, but how can you ever mentally prepare for a student death?" he said.

Crady also said he was discomfited by the fact that last fall's search failed to turn up Shuman-Moore's body when it was so close to campus. Crady personally helped in the search for a week, and described the process as "extraordinarily well-organized." He remembers that the search of the country club golf course and nearby railroad tracks was extremely thorough. However, he said that "the pool cover itself is pulled very tight, and so I can see why people would not think it would be a place to look."

Members of the media are allowed on campus in public places, and so were able to cover the candlelight vigil held Tuesday night at 9:30. However, they were not granted special passes to cover the student counseling and discussion session in Younker. According to Kate Worster, Director of Communications, the college does not allow the media into private residence halls and has no intention of doing so. "We asked everyone to please show us kindness and respect because we are grieving," she said.

"I think our students are extraordinarily mature and very thoughtful in the way they respond," Crady said. "Our students come together very well and are very resilient and we want students who are upset to know that we care about them."

An autopsy has been completed but members of the Police Department have not yet commented on the cause of death. Tuesday's press release stated that a press conference would most likely be held Wednesday afternoon to announce any further information.