Three employees from Smyrna Elementary School have been arrested by the local police department after an extensive investigation into allegations of child abuse and neglect.
Police initiated their investigation in February 2024, uncovering troubling patterns of misconduct within a classroom for special needs elementary students.
Authorities report that certain staff members in the classroom are accused of hurling objects at students and shouting at them. A 31-year-old woman from Smyrna, Makayla Lomax, faces allegations of striking a student in the face and employing a spray water bottle as a form of punishment.
Authorities have uncovered an additional case from 2022 involving two staff members, Marissa Johnson and Morgan Donahue, who reportedly provided hot sauce and spicy chips to a student with a digestive condition.
Charges have been filed against the following three suspects:
A 26-year-old woman from Smyrna, Marissa Johnson, faces 10 charges related to endangering a child’s welfare and offensive touching.
Makayla Lomax, 31, from Smyrna, faces charges including Child Abuse in the 3rd Degree, nine counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and Offensive Touching.
A 21-year-old from Clayton, Morgan Donahue, faces a charge for endangering a child’s welfare.