According to TMU, a police report indicated that “hundreds of graphic emails” were from Reynolds’ personal account, despite the VP previously telling law enforcement the emails weren’t his. A few months later, TMU said, it was informed that “the case was closed.”
In February 2025, Swinson’s attorney presented school leadership with “excerpts of Reynolds’ sexually-explicit and theologically-twisted…emails,” stated the university. TMU “takes all allegations of sexual misconduct seriously,” it added. “Had there been a Title IX or HR complaint filed related to this matter, Reynolds would have been immediately investigated and ultimately dismissed.”
Outside counsel retained by TMU “found no documented evidence of Reynolds’ behavior, including reviewing the computers, emails and files of former employees,” the university stated. Referring to Roys as “a blogger and podcaster,” TMU also denied claims that it fired former Title IX coordinator Jonathan Morris for being a “whistleblower” about Reynolds. Instead, TMU said it ended Morris’ employment because of financial indiscretions.
The university emphasized its commitment to “providing a caring, supportive, Christ-centered environment for all students, faculty and staff.” It requested prayers “for all those involved” in the situation.
In a video posted to YouTube by Roys on June 3, Caner expressed grief that Swinson had been hurt by a “sin that was so grievous against her.” He and his family have “prayed for her healing, and we are thankful for her voice,” he said. Caner continued:
And while there was no cover-up, there was no Title IX [complaint] filed or an HR complaint, there was no petition that ever came across my desk, we have to do better because these are our students. These are people of our family, and we have to find the cracks and the fissures that we must have missed. We have to ensure that these students are protected to the uttermost, that they have a voice, that they not only are safe but they feel safe.
Caner, who said he is “so sorry for Haley [and] her family,” pledged that all members of the TMU community would unite “to protect each other from the top to the bottom and from the bottom to the top.”
On June 6, after the board of trustees met out of what the university called “genuine concern,” TMU announced that trustees unanimously approved three proposals: conducting a third-party investigation, placing Caner—president since 2008—on leave, and appointing Yarbrough as acting president in the meantime.
In the comments on that Facebook post, someone wrote, “Your ‘genuine concern’ should’ve taken place years ago when this was first brought to your attention.”
Students, Alumni, Staff Say They Voiced Concerns Earlier
As trustees arrived for last Friday’s meeting, about 30 protesters stood outside with signs, including one that read, “My girls aren’t safe at TMU.” Caylin Carter, a former TMU soccer player, told reporters she had witnessed “predatory” behavior by Reynolds against Swinson.
The goal of the protest, according to a social media post, was to demand “immediate disciplinary action against any individual, regardless of position, found to have committed abuse, contributed to a cover-up, or failed to act on credible reports of abuse.”
Alumna Brianna Derryberry said the group is working to prevent anyone from enduring what Swinson “and any of the other victims have gone through.”
According to TRR, the dossier prepared by Swinson’s attorney alleges that “rumors about Reynolds’ inappropriate behavior had floated about campus for years.” Morris, whom the school said it fired for financial indiscretions, said he told President Caner about accusations against Reynolds back in 2016. Morris indicated he had seen Reynolds and Swinson alone together at Reynolds’ house for an extended period.
In a November 2016 email shared by TRR, Reynolds told Swinson about the “biggest busybodies,” including one who saw Swinson’s vehicle outside Reynolds’ house.
Morris refuted the school’s account of his financial wrongdoing, saying he accidentally used a school credit card for a personal purchase but immediately reimbursed TMU. Morris alleged that President Caner told him, “You no longer need to pay attention to Reynolds.”
