Alabama agency closes Harper Lee elder-abuse investigation

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama agency has ended an elder-abuse investigation regarding author Harper Lee.

Alabama Department of Human Resources spokesman Barry Spear said Monday that the investigation has been closed.

The "To Kill A Mockingbird" author made international news with the announcement that she would be publishing a new book. Some in Lee's hometown of Monroeville had questioned whether the 88-year-old was able to give consent to the publication.

Alabama Securities Commission Director Joseph Borg said last month that his agency looked into the matter at the request of the Department of Human Resources. He said Lee was able to answer questions about the book to investigators' satisfaction.

An arm of HarperCollins Publishers announced that Lee's new novel, "Go Set a Watchman," will be released in July.

Lee lives in an assisted-living facility in Monroeville.