Child abuse investigation at Smyrna Elementary School leads to three arrests

SMYRNA, Del. – Police have charged three people in connection to alleged child abuse at Smyrna Elementary School.

We’re told the investigation began in February of this year and revealed an alleged pattern of troubling behavior in a special needs elementary classroom. Police say it was revealed that the employees working in this classroom would reportedly throw objects at the students, yell at them, and call them names. It is also alleged that one of the suspects, 31-year-old Makayla Lomax, hit a student in the face and sprayed them with a water bottle as a form of discipline.

Additionally, the investigation uncovered another incident outside of the affected classroom that happened during the fall of 2022. In this incident, it was alleged that two of the employees fed hot sauce and hot Takis to a special needs student who had a known digestive disability.

Lomax was charged with third degree child abuse, nine counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and offensive touching.

26-year-old Marrisa Johnson was charged with ten counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

21-year-old Morgan Donahue was charged with one count of endangering the welfare of a child.