University of Iowa taking action against former professor

IOWA CITY - University of Iowa researcher Dr. Gary Hunninghake was under investigation by UI Police for child pornography when he stabbed himself in Chicago last April, according to the Chicago police report.

UI officials on Friday said they are pursuing action against Hunninghake, who has been on paid leave from his $360,000 a year UI job since April 23. UI officials several months ago said an internal investigation was closed, but they refused to release any details. On Friday, officials said they are taking action, though they again declined to give specifics.

“The University is in the process of taking action against Dr. Hunninghake under University policy,” UI Spokesman Tom Moore said in a statement Friday. “However, due to a pending request for an injunction filed by Dr. Hunninghake, we are not legally at liberty to discuss the details of this matter.”

Moore said he could not discuss what type of action the UI might take against Hunninghake, or when that might occur.

Hunninghake, who was director of the university's Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, did not return a phone message Friday. His Iowa City lawyer, Leon Spies, and his Chicago lawyer, Robert Fisher, also did not return messages.

Hunninghake, 64, told Chicago police he was stabbed and robbed on April 24 while jogging in downtown Chicago, the day after he was put on leave at the UI. Hunninghake later admitted to Chicago police he stabbed himself.

UI police contacted Chicago authorities after they heard of the stabbing to clue them in on their investigation of Hunninghake, according to the Chicago police report.

“Director (Bill) Searls related that victim was put on administrative leave by the University of Iowa Hospital and questioned the validity of the incident that occurred in Chicago, due to the close proximity of the investigation and warrants being executed in Iowa” the Chicago police report states.

UI police told the Chicago officials that Hunninghake was under investigation for child pornography by his department and that search warrants had been executed at Hunninghake's home and office, the Chicago report says.

Those search warrants have been sealed by a judge in Johnson County.

During the execution of the search Warrant at Hunninghake's Coralville home on April 30, his wife attempted to contact him by phone to inform him, according to the police report.

On May 2, Chicago police called Hunninghake and told him that after eight days of aggressive investigation of the stabbing incident, “several inconsistencies and outright contradictions became apparent” and that they knew he had “some serious problems in Iowa City,” the police report states. Hunninghake then asked Chicago Detective Ed Heerdt if the matter could be kept out of the media and if charges would be filed against him, the report says.

Hunninghake also during that May 2 phone call told Heerdt he bought a set of steak knives, threw four of the five knives away and used the fifth to stab himself, after which he threw that knife in the river, according to the police report.

When Heerdt asked Hunninghake if he was trying to kill himself or just appear hurt for sympathy, Hunninghake stated “he was not sure what he was trying to (do) and explained that he was in a strange state of mind when he did this,” the police report says.

Hunninghake has filed suit in Johnson County seeking to stop the UI from releasing any information about the internal university investigation. It seeks an injunction prohibiting officials from disclosing records requested by the media. A hearing it set in that case April 1.

Hunninghake pleaded guilty in January in Cook County Circuit Court in Chicago to misdemeanor disorderly conduct. He was originally charged with felony disorderly conduct. Hunninghake was sentenced to 14 months of conditional discharge and will be required to serve 40 hours of community service, which he will serve at Saint Sabina Church in Chicago. He also must pay more than $15,000 in restitution to the Chicago Police Department.