N.Y. Arts Charity Whose Leader Suffered Lye Attack to Close

A New York City nonprofit whose executive director was doused with lye last August in an assault that authorities link to an alleged embezzlement abruptly shut down Wednesday, according to The New York Times. The move came days after the Healing Arts Initiative’s board fired D. Alexandra Dyer, the executive director who was attacked with a caustic drain cleaner after launching an investigation of the organization’s finances.

The board said the 47-year-old charity, which provides performances and arts workshops for disabled, poor, and elderly New Yorkers, is months behind on rent and other bills and is likely to declare bankruptcy. Through a spokesman, the board said it was unaware how far costs were exceeding revenue because Ms. Dyer and Frank Williams, the chief financial officer who was also fired last week, withheld “crucial financial information.”

The former officials deny the claim. A lawyer for Ms. Dyer, who is suing the board, said the directors are trying to “thwart the investigation into their incompetence.” Three people, including a former Healing Arts bookkeeper, have been charged in connection with the alleged $750,000 theft form the charity and the attack on Ms. Dyer, which left her face badly scarred.