Jason Arday, 41, a former sociology professor at the University of Cambridge, was found dead Friday in his south London home. Metropolitan Police confirmed that the man was pronounced dead at the scene and that his next-of-kin have been informed. A police spokesperson stated that the death is being treated as unexpected but not suspicious, and an investigation is underway for the coroner.
Arday had resigned from his professorship on August 5, citing "an unrelenting level of public scrutiny." His resignation followed an investigation launched by the university into accusations that he had plagiarized portions of his doctoral dissertation and had falsely claimed to hold positions at Ohio State University, the University of Glasgow, and Durham University.
The university's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Deborah Prentice, expressed sympathy over Arday's death, stating, "We are desperately saddened to hear this tragic news. Our heartfelt sympathies go to Jason Arday’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time."
Prior to his resignation, Arday had faced allegations that he had incorporated over 100 passages from another academic's thesis into his own doctoral work. A postdoctoral researcher had published findings detailing numerous instances of apparent plagiarism in Arday's dissertation. Arday had also been accused of fabricating personal accomplishments, including running numerous marathons in a short period, raising substantial charitable funds, and playing professional snooker.
Arday, who had stated he was autistic and had been nonverbal until the age of 11, admitted to some errors in his work but denied being a "liar and fantasist." He had previously gained recognition as Cambridge's youngest black professor at the age of 37 and was sometimes presented as a symbol of diversity within academia.