A special education teacher at an elementary school in Mobile County, Alabama, has been arrested and charged with aggravated child abuse after a 4-year-old student was hospitalized with a life-threatening blood alcohol level, police confirmed this week.
Shocking Incident at School Leads to ICU Hospitalization
The incident occurred on April 28, when the young girl, daughter of Mary and Albert Singleton, was found unwell and unresponsive at Collins-Rhodes Elementary School just before classes ended. According to her parents, they received a call from the school nurse, who described their daughter as “slobbering at the mouth” and limp.
“She was heavy, and the teacher handed her to me saying we probably needed to take her to the ER,” Mary Singleton told WALA, a local Fox affiliate.
The parents rushed their daughter to USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital, where doctors made a shocking discovery — the child had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.29, more than three and a half times the legal limit for an adult.
The little girl spent two days in the ICU before she was finally released. Due to the serious nature of the incident and her slow recovery, she was unable to return to school for the rest of the academic year.
Investigation Leads to Arrest
Following media coverage of the incident, local authorities opened an investigation. The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office took charge of the case on May 6, and by Wednesday, May 22, Tracy Walker, a 56-year-old special education teacher, was arrested.
Court documents reveal that the 4-year-old told detectives that her teacher gave her a drink — after which she began to feel sick.
Walker, who was listed as a staff member on the Collins-Rhodes Elementary School website, has since been placed on administrative leave, according to a statement from the school.
Legal Proceedings Underway
As of Thursday, Tracy Walker remains in custody without bond. A bond hearing is scheduled for Friday, according to WALA.
The case has sparked widespread concern among parents and educators alike, with many questioning how such a serious breach of safety could happen in a school environment.
Authorities have not yet confirmed how the alcohol came into the child’s system or what kind of drink was allegedly given to her. However, the aggravated child abuse charge indicates that investigators believe the harm was intentional or recklessly severe.
School District Response
The Mobile County Public School System has not released further details beyond confirming that Walker was placed on leave. They are expected to cooperate with ongoing investigations.
The community is now calling for more rigorous safety protocols, especially when it comes to vulnerable students, including those in special education programs.