A North Carolina teacher is accused of kissing a 5-year-old autistic student in a school restroom. However, police have decided not to pursue the case since the nonverbal child was unable to identify the perpetrator.
On March 28, another staff member reportedly confronted someone about the concerning incident and informed the Blythe Elementary School administration.
“They didn’t even take my daughter away; she was left in the classroom after it happened,” Elizabeth Suzuki expressed in a phone call, visibly upset.
“They removed the staff from the classroom and sent her home for the day, yet they didn’t contact the police. That was all they could tell us, so I had to call them myself,” she added.
Suzuki worries that her daughter may have to deal with this odd behavior for a while. “I used to be excited about going to school every day, but now I cry before leaving the house,” she shared.
The anxiety intensifies as Suzuki and her husband had met with their child’s teachers earlier that week to talk about the significant changes in her behavior. They were advised that the parents needed to assist their daughter better in acclimating to her new school environment.
“I told them, ‘There’s nothing wrong with her. She wakes up happy in the mornings, but as soon as she sees her backpack, it all falls apart. Clearly, something is off here,’ but they brushed off my concerns,” Suzuki recounted.
“She can’t express what’s bothering her. It’s like I’m in the dark, and without being there, I can’t see what’s troubling her.”
The incident report indicated that staff members were removed from the classroom, but the investigation is being handled by the district and not the school itself.
Despite Suzuki’s report to the Huntersville Police, no charges have been pressed, and she feels sidelined as the school claims it “cannot share its side of the story.”
“I found myself crying, thinking, ‘Why aren’t they taking this more seriously? Why is it so hard to understand her struggles with school?’” Suzuki reflected.
This unsettling event, along with the ensuing misunderstandings, leaves Suzuki feeling desperate and oblivious to what her daughter might be experiencing.
“I can’t grasp what she’s going through, and that terrifies me because I worry every time she’s not with me.”
Authorities from Huntersville, Bryce Elementary School, and Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools have not responded to requests for comments.
In a statement to local news, the district acknowledged awareness of the alleged event but stated, “Due to privacy laws, we cannot disclose any details about the investigation. We are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our students.”
