Teachers accused of locking 5-year-old special needs boy in room for so long that he ate his own feces

While the incident took place in April 2021, teacher Melody LaPointe, 47, and assistants Tarah Tinney, 33, and Augusta Costlow, 27, were just charged earlier this week with abandoning or endangering a child, reported The New York Post.

According to a local ABC report, the three educators are accused of isolating the child in a room in a Liberty Independent School District building. While locked in the room, the boy fell and became injured, but the accused teacher and aides allegedly ignored his need for help.

After being deprived of food and water for an extended period of time, he ate his own feces and drank his urine.

It is unclear how Liberty ISD was made aware of the disturbing incident, but they claimed they reported it to the authorities and child protective services immediately after learning of what happened.

"We removed the educators, who continued to work for us, from the classroom, and conducted a comprehensive investigation," they said in a statement.

"Based upon our investigation, we reported the educators to the State Board for Educator Certification and shared our results with law enforcement officials. Upon completion of the investigation back in 2021, none of the individuals continued in our employment from that time forward," the school district stated, adding that "Liberty ISD is continuing to work with the Liberty County District Attorney’s office for the benefit of our children."

The bond for all three women was set at $60,000 each.