Professor Recently Outed For Fraudulent Biography Found Dead

Jason Arday, the Cambridge professor who resigned nine days ago over plagiarism allegations, was found dead in his London home.

Authorities said in a statement that an ambulance was called to his residence after Arday had been found “unresponsive.” He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police added that the death was being treated as “unexpected” but is not believed to be suspicious, according to The Telegraph. 

Just nine days ago, Cambridge launched an investigation into Arday. “The University of Cambridge has begun an investigation following new information about Professor Arday’s academic qualifications and honorary appointments,” the statement from the university said. “In order to ensure a fair process, we will not comment further until this has concluded.”

Cambridge was not initially keen on opening an investigation. Cambridge said Arday was “the victim of a vile campaign to undermine his credibility, which must stop.” The school began to change its tune when reports emerged that Arday had filed a harassment claim against a journalist who was investigating his work. The day that Cambridge announced its investigation, Arday resigned.

“I no longer wish to feel as though I am living under a constant spotlight, where every aspect of my life is subject to public examination and judgement,” Arday said. 

The scandal broke just days before his memoir was supposed to be published. His book, “Great and Unfortunate Things,” was still published on Tuesday, but now faces questions of its own. The book centered on his life with autism and other disabilities.

Arday said he learned to read and write at eighteen, went on to earn his Ph.D., and joined the faculty at Cambridge. Journalists and academics are questioning some of Arday’s claims, including whether he really ran thirty marathons in thirty-five days, and if he raised 5.5 million British pounds for charity, as he states in his memoir. 

Arday did not respond to the attacks on his book, but attributed mistakes in his early work to his autism and lack of supervision from professors. “While criticism is an inevitable part of academic life, what I have experienced has gone far beyond scholarly disagreement,” he wrote. “The relentless accusations, speculation and public commentary have taken a profound toll on me and on those I love,” he said. 

The day before his book came out, he canceled his book tour events. He would be found dead just four days later.

The Guardian reported that academics became critical of Arday. “I think it’s plagiarism and it’s obvious,” said an academic who spoke on condition of anonymity. Another said Arday’s fallout “could send shockwaves through academia and set the study of race in Britain back twenty years.”