[August 26, 2011] U of I met with, counseled Katy Benoit for more than two months before her fatal shooting, according to timeline released Friday Tweet Aug 26, 2011 (The Idaho Statesman - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- University of Idaho President M. Duane Nellis said Friday that university officials worked closely with student Katy Benoit and the Moscow Police over the summer to investigate a complaint she made against assistant professor Ernesto Bustamante. Nellis, who issued a public statement Friday saying the University was committed to full public disclosure regarding the shooting death of Benoit, released a detailed timeline of how university officials dealt with Benoit's complaint against Bustamante this summer. That timeline indicates university officials urged Benoit to contact Moscow police about Bustamante June 10, the day she first filed the complaint. The timeline also says Benoit told university officials she contacted Moscow police on June 13. Moscow police confirmed that Benoit contacted their department on June 10. University officials also met with Moscow police to review the case in July and told Benoit to let them know if Bustamante tried to contact her. Officials also met with Benoit on Aug. 22 -- the day police say she was shot and killed by Bustamante outside her off-campus apartment -- to tell her Bustamante was no longer working for U of I. School officials say they cautioned Benoit to remain vigilant and call police if she had any safety concerns. Nellis also said university lawyers will ask a judge if the school can release personnel records related to former professor Ernesto Bustamante, since he is dead. Police say Bustamante killed himself Tuesday morning after shooting Benoit Monday night. Nellis said he has asked for an independent review of the institution's policies and procedures, "to ensure that the university maintains the highest safety and security standards." The university said it will offer details of that independent review in the coming days. "This tragic situation has brought a profound sadness to our entire community," said Nellis. "And while incidents of violence like this are very rare in Moscow, even one tragedy is too many. We must continue to do everything we can to protect our students and our campus community; for that reason, I am asking for an independent review of the university's policies and procedures to ensure that we are doing the very best job we possibly can." Nellis said in a news release that the school "is committed to full public disclosure of all related documents, as it gains authority to release them." The school said that it can release information about its contacts with Benoit because "confidentiality of student records does not extend beyond the life of a student." The university said Nellis and Bruce Pitman, dean of students, have spoken with the family of Benoit, to offer personal condolences and those of the university community. "Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of Katy Benoit," said Nellis. "We understand their desire to have a full accounting of the circumstances that led to Katy's death. I intend to do everything I can to answer their questions. A tragedy has occurred and we all want answers." Benoit's family issued this release Friday afternoon, after the university and police had released a large amount of information about the case: "We are deeply grateful for all of the thoughts and prayers that Katy and our family have received. We appreciate the condolences from the Bustamante Family and offer our condolences to the Bustamante Family, as well. This is a difficult time for everyone." Details of a Moscow campus memorial are still pending. A memorial service and funeral for Benoit will take place in Boise on Tuesday, Aug. 30, at 4 p.m., at Boise High School, 1010 W. Washington. The university maintains its crime statistics online and last year, it ranked as the 36th safest campus in the nation. Here is the timeline the university provided. It does not include any information from the perspective of Bustamante's personnel record: June 10, 2011: University's first contact with Benoit to discuss a complaint. Based on allegations, the university urged Benoit take safety precautions and that she contact Moscow Police Department (MPD). University provided Benoit with personal contact information for MPD and Alternatives to Violence of the Palouse (ATVP) for assistance beyond those the university could provide. University also contacted Moscow Police Department directly. June 12, 2011: University received details of Benoit's complaint in writing. June 13, 2011: Benoit sends e-mail indicating she had contacted MPD. June 13, 2011: University replied to Benoit again urging her to also contact ATVP. June 14, 2011: Benoit sends e-mail to university saying she does not want Bustamante served with her complaint at this time before discussing it further. She indicates she will come in the next day. June 16, 2011: When Benoit did not come in on June 15, the university sent an e-mail to her to encourage the follow-up meeting. June 30, 2011: University receives e-mail from Benoit apologizing for being out of touch. Benoit writes she had been out of town and would be gone again the next week. July 6, 2011: University informed Benoit by e-mail that her complaint had been sent to Bustamante along with a letter detailing the possible university policy violations. It had been held until this date at her request. The university reiterated the importance of seeking more help, including calling police if Benoit ever felt the need. She was also told that Bustamante had been directed by the university to have no contact with her. Benoit was told to inform the university immediately if Bustamante did attempt to contact her. July 9, 2011: Benoit e-mails university to say she is out of town until July 13. July 14, 2011: University Threat Assessment Team, including Moscow Police Department representative, meets to assess the level of the safety risk for Benoit and others involved in the investigation. July 14, 2011: University investigators met with Benoit to review Bustamante's response and notify her that university investigators would interview Bustamante on July 19. This was considered a high-risk point so recommendation was made she stay somewhere other than her apartment to avoid contact. July 22, 2011: University called Benoit to ask where she would be until the start of school. She said she would be in Moscow. University encouraged her to continue to take safety precautions, including contacting MPD. Aug. 22, 2011: University met with Benoit to inform her that Bustamante's last day of employment was August 19. She was cautioned to remain vigilant and get assistance from the police and others if she had any safety concerns. University also encouraged Benoit to remain in contact with university representatives and to take advantage of university support services. ___ (c)2011 The Idaho Statesman (Boise, Idaho) Visit The Idaho Statesman (Boise, Idaho) at www.idahostatesman.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]