In a bombshell development straight out of a nightmare, four former school employees are now facing an eye-popping 1,188 criminal charges tied to the alleged abuse of non-verbal autistic children in a McKell Elementary School special education classroom.
That’s right — 1,188 counts of alleged cruelty, including:
🔴 531 counts of physical abuse
🔴 250 counts of mental abuse
🔴 138 counts of improper restraint
🔴 137 counts involving a restraint chair
🔴 12 counts of unlawful imprisonment
The disturbing incidents are said to have happened between October 14 and November 12, 2024, but only came to light after a classroom complaint triggered administrators to review security footage on November 13. What they saw was allegedly so horrific, they contacted law enforcement immediately.
The victims? Five defenseless, non-verbal children under 12 with autism who couldn’t even speak to explain what was happening.
Now facing charges:
- Makenzie Rice, 24, of Greenup
- Faith Jordan, 22, also of Greenup
- Ashley Trissler, 35, of South Shore
- Michael Lyons, 32, of South Shore
And if that wasn’t enough, Lyons was also arrested separately in Carter County on June 26 for allegedly sending obscene material to a 13-year-old child. Sources say the charge stems from an explicit photo sent directly to the minor.
But the courtroom drama doesn’t stop there. Earlier this year, two separate lawsuits tied to the abuse were moved to U.S. District Court — taking aim at the school system, administrators, and instructors, all accused of failing to protect the most vulnerable students.
The four accused are expected in court for a pre-trial conference on July 10.
👨⚖️ Why This Matters:
This case isn’t just about criminal charges — it’s about a school system’s sacred duty to protect children who cannot speak for themselves. Instead, prosecutors say, it became a house of horrors.
Read our previous Report on this horrific case, that just keeps getting worse, here.
Stay tuned as we continue to follow every twist in this jaw-dropping case.