A CLOSER LOOK AT THE SORDID CASE SURROUNDING TEACHER/COMMISSIONER MICHAEL SPEICH
A very in-depth article on the Michael Speich case has been written by the very able journalist Mike Moser for the Crossville Chronicle. It answers some questions and poses many more. We thought we’d share this article with our readers.
Mike Moser: Crossville Chronicle
When Michael Eugene Speich took his life June 27 at the edge of a pasture on his Westel Loop farm, it ended his criminal prosecution for sexual misconduct involving past and present students. It did not end the story for countless others.
Speich, 55, a Cumberland County teacher for 29 years, county commissioner and high school cross country coach, was indicted on June 24 on one count of sexual battery by an authority figure.
District Attorney Bryant Dunaway expressed concern last week that victims of the actions for which Speich is accused were denied their day in court. The concern is the lack of closure.
State prosecutors said more evidence was going to be presented to the grand jury in August. Those charges included rape and/or additional sexual misconduct charges.
“When the story broke about the grand jury indictment and arrest in June, our phones immediately started ringing and did not stop,” Dunaway said last Friday. “When he died, we had three cases prepared for presentation to the grand jury and were preparing two additional cases.
