Karen Pletz, former president of Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, found dead
Karen Pletz, the former president of Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences and longtime civic leader facing federal embezzlement charges over handling of school funds, was found dead in Florida just after midnight Tuesday morning. The Star reports that the cause of death is still being determined, but police were called to a Fort Lauderdale home and discovered Pletz. Foul play is not suspected. She was 64.
Peltz had been a highly regarded businesswoman and praised for her philanthropic work and community service. The Star reports that honors she received included the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s Athena Award for community service in 2007 and the Central Exchange’s Woman of the Year award in 2004.
She was president of KCUMB from 1995 until 2009, when she was sacked for allegedly mishandling school funds. Following her firing, the school filed a civil suit against Pletz, saying she had misused $2 million of the school’s money. Pletz filed a countersuit for wrongful termination. Last April, Pletz was indicted by a federal grand jury on 24 counts including embezzlement, filing false tax returns and money laundering.
She was scheduled to stand trial on the criminal charges in mid-March.
