Surveillance footage showed a 7-year-old special education student choking at lunch. What staff did next led to criminal charges against five school employees.
The Incident
In February, at Brown Elementary School in Brownsburg, Indiana, a 7-year-old special education student began choking on his food during lunch. According to police, life skills teacher Sara Seymour told the child he would have to eat his vomit if he threw up. When he did vomit, life skills instructional aide Debra Kanipe reportedly gave him a spoon and made him eat some of it, along with paper towels to clean up the rest, while another staff member, Julie Taylor, provided a tray. Two additional staff members, Megan King and Kristen Mitchell, were present and witnessed the incident.
The Charges
Sara Seymour and Debra Kanipe were charged with felony neglect of a dependent. All five individuals -- Seymour, Kanipe, Taylor, Mitchell, and King, who worked as a behavioral technician for a third-party contractor -- were charged with misdemeanor failure to report.
The Response
Brownsburg police were notified on April 12, shortly after school officials learned of the incident, and the Hendricks County Prosecutor's Office filed charges soon after. Seymour and Kanipe were arrested and released the same day. Superintendent Jim Snapp said he was deeply saddened by the staff members' actions, and the school district confirmed all employees involved would be terminated.
FAQ
Who was charged with felony neglect?
Sara Seymour and Debra Kanipe, the two staff members most directly involved in the incident.
What happened to the staff members involved?
The school district said all employees connected to the incident would be terminated.
How did the incident come to light?
It was captured on school surveillance footage and reported to police shortly after school officials became aware of it.