Several individuals may have been involved in sending a defamatory and threatening letter that was received at the home of Scarborough school Superintendent Julie Kukenberger, police announced Wednesday.
Police also are investigating the possibility that someone was able to listen to conversations in the superintendent’s home, the announcement said.
The anonymous letter, which was addressed to Kukenberger’s husband, also was sent to five school board members and the town manager, according to a police statement about its ongoing investigation.
“The Scarborough Police Department does have evidence of an individual’s involvement,” the police department said. “The investigation and interviews to this point indicate that there are other individuals involved. This matter remains under investigation as we pursue the identity of the other individuals that may be involved.”
Police have not released the name of the individual mentioned in the statement.
The school board notified the community in early April that it had asked police to investigate the letter, which it described as “threatening, demeaning, misogynistic and defamatory.” The letter itself has not been made public.
“The letter contains allegations of inappropriate behavior on the part of the superintendent, which the Board of Education has reviewed and deemed to be demonstrably false,” police said.
The letter advises the Kukenbergers that they should plan on moving away because “it’s not ever going to get better here,” police said.
The author of the letter “also indicates that (s)he is aware of conversations that have taken place within the Kukenberger home,” police said.
“This is particularly concerning, as it suggests that someone has the ability to listen to conversations inside of their home,” police said. “The individuals that received the letters feel that the intent is to harass and threaten the safety of the superintendent and as such we have taken this complaint seriously and are actively investigating it.”
The letter arrived in late March as Kukenberger was at the center of criticism over the departure of the high school principal, changes in school start times and other issues. The animosity has continued, with critics moving to recall three school board members with the goal of forcing the resignation of Kukenberger and the reinstatement of the high school principal, David Creech.
Kelley Bouchard can be contacted at 791-6328 or at:
kbouchard@pressherald.com
Twitter: KelleyBouchard
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