SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Missouri State University fired the director of the University Bookstore after an internal audit couldn't account for $400,000 in receipts over the past three years. Mark Brixey worked for the university for 21 years and has been the bookstore director for about a dozen years.
MSU Interim President Clif Smart announced the firing at a news conference on Monday afternoon. He also said the findings of a university audit of the bookstore were turned over to the Springfield Police Department for further investigation and possible charges. Smart said the firing was the hardest thing he's had to do since become interim president 13 months ago.
Brixey oversaw a $15 million-a-year operation. Top university officials say auditors discovered $81,000 cash in his desk in his bookstore office while he was on vacation last week. In all, auditors can’t account for $400,000 received during the past three years.
Internal auditors picked up the trail when Brixey could not explain what happened to a $16,000 check when he came back from vacation last week.
