UPDATE: Deaths of CJI superintendent, wife ruled murder-suicide

The Liberty County Sheriff’s Office has determined the cause of death of Francis and Tanya LaBounty was a murder-suicide.

Francis LaBounty, the superintendent of CJI Schools, killed Tanya LaBounty on Tuesday and then killed himself, according to a news release.

Tanya was also employed at the school, the news release says. The CJI Schools website lists her as a grade 9-12 science aide.

Both suffered gunshot wounds to the head, and a .357 revolver was recovered from the scene.

CJI superintendent, wife found dead

Tanya lived in a separate residence from her husband after he was arrested following a domestic disturbance at their home Dec. 1. She obtained a protective order against Francis. The bodies were recovered at Tanya’s residence.

The community of Hi-Line towns Chester, Joplin and Inverness has undergone a year of loss and controversy.

“We’re dealing with this as anyone would deal with something as tragic as this,” CJI Principal Rita Chvilicek said. “The community is grieving over the loss.”

This was Francis’ first year as superintendent at CJI. His predecessor, Thad Kaiser, left the school following a controversial student protest in February.

CJI teacher/coach surrenders license

CJI teacher/coach now on leave during investigation

Kaitlyn Lyders, CJI family consumer sciences teacher, spoke to a student about a comment he made in the school newspaper. She suggested he apologize to Kaiser. The student became upset and made a threat on Kaiser’s life. The student was suspended for 10 days and escorted from the campus by a sheriff.

When Lyders returned to school the next day, the students were staging a protest on behalf of freedom of speech. Lyders said she believed the students misunderstood the situation and believed the student was suspended for the newspaper comment and not the death threat.

Students who missed class to protest were punished per the unexcused absence procedure outlined in the CJI handbook. Absent students received a 5 percent quarter grade deduction in the classes they missed. The American Civil Liberties Union became involved in the matter, demanding the school accept the appeal of the punishment.

A few months prior to the incident, in November 2015, CJI teacher and coach Patrick Goldhahn was placed on administrative leave following several Title IX violations under a complaint of sexual harassment or sexual violence were filed with the Office of Civil Rights within the U.S. Department of Education, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

Teacher involved in CJI protest speaks out

CJI student in protest reportedly threatened staff

In late 2016, Goldhahn surrendered his license following a request by the state superintendent for a hearing in front of the Board of Public Education, according to Emilie Ritter Saunders, Office of Public Instruction communications director. Because Goldhahn surrendered his license before the hearing, it has been dismissed.

Now that Goldhahn no longer holds a Montana teaching license, he cannot teach in Montana public schools. Saunders said this also will affect his ability to obtain a teaching license in another state.

Goldhanh is also the father of former CJI student Lauryn Goldhahn who died Aug. 27 from injuries suffered in a car wreck. She was 15 years old. Lauryn was attending Fairfield High School when she died.

“The student body is still reeling from the death of (Lauryn) earlier this year,” Chvilicek said. “To me, right now, I think we still need time to grieve and heal from what happened.”