BROWNSBURG, INDIANA — An Indiana elementary school teacher accused of forcing a student to eat his own vomit voluntarily gave up her teaching license.
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Four Brownsburg Community School employees and one contractor faced criminal charges after mistreating a special needs student.
On April 17, Brownsburg Community School Corporation (BCSC) learned that several employees mistreated a seven-year-old special needs student during lunch a few months earlier.
In February, Sara Seymour, a Life Skills Teacher, allegedly told the victim if he vomited, he would have to eat what he threw up, according to Brownsburg Police Department. Julie Taylor, Life Skills Teacher, allegedly gave the victim a tray to vomit on.
The victim did end up vomiting, and Debra Kanipe, Like Skills Instructional Aid, allegedly gave him a spoon to use to eat a portion of his own vomit, according to a release from the Brownsburg Police Department. Two others, Kristen Mitchell, Like Skills Instructional Aid, and Megan King, Kids Count Registered Behavioral Technician, witnessed the incident.
The Brownsburg Police Department obtained a video of the incident, and it showed the victim eating his lunch, and at one point, appeared to gag. Once the victim vomited, Seymour told the victim to sit down and eat the regurgitated fluid. Seymour then provided paper towels to clean up the remainder, according to Brownsburg Police Department.
When the school district learned about this two months later, Seymour and Kanipe were fired by the district, while Taylor, King, and Mitchell were all placed on administrative leave pending a ruling from the school board. Those who were not fired later resigned.
Seymour surrendered her license on June 7, according to documents filed with the Department of Education.
After the investigation, the Brownsburg Police Department presented the case to the Hendricks County Prosecutors Office, where charges were filed Monday against all five.
- Sara Seymour, 27, was charged with Neglect of a Dependent, a Level 6 felony, and failure to report a Class B Misdemeanor.
- Debra Kanipe, 63, was charged with Neglect of a Dependent, a Level 6 felony, and failure to report a Class B Misdemeanor.
- Julie Taylor, 48, was charged with failure to report a Class B Misdemeanor.
- Kristen Mitchell, 38, was charged with failure to report a Class B Misdemeanor.
- Megan King, 24, was charged with failure to report a Class B Misdemeanor.
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