Teacher Found Guilty of Possessing ‘Kill List’ Receives Punishment

UPDATE


Aug 7, 2023 5:55 PM CDT

In a recent development, a former fifth-grade teacher who allegedly created a “hit list” targeting students and staff members has reached a plea deal. Angelica Carrasquillo, a 25-year-old from Griffith, Indiana, pleaded guilty to an intimidation charge last Friday. As part of the deal, she has been placed on probation for 2½ years and is prohibited from working at a school or daycare during that time. Carrasquillo is also forbidden from contacting her victims, and the court will monitor her mental health treatment. School officials learned about her intentions after she confided in them, citing mental health issues and trauma from her high school experience as reasons for her actions.

Oct 14, 2022 8:23 AM CDT

Authorities arrested a primary school teacher in Indiana on allegations of maintaining a “kill list” that named multiple students and staff members at the school. The incident came to light when St. Stanislaus School in East Chicago contacted the police after a student reported the teacher’s threats. Fifth-grader Portia Jones shared with her counselor that 25-year-old Angelica Carrasquillo-Torres had expressed her desire to harm herself, other students, and employees at the school. Jones mentioned her own name being near the bottom of the alleged list. Carrasquillo-Torres was taken to the principal’s office immediately, where she admitted to the comments and the existence of the list. The school then sent her home pending further investigation, which led to her subsequent arrest. Parents expressed outrage over the delay in reporting the incident to the police, insisting that law enforcement should have been alerted promptly.

According to Portia, Carrasquillo-Torres made threats to “choke” the students, revealing her plans to harm her middle school friends, high school friends, and even members of her own family. Another student also disclosed similar information to school authorities. Carrasquillo-Torres was apprehended at her residence in Griffith the day after the incident. As of now, formal charges against her have not been filed. The school’s principal assured parents that the safety of students was a top priority and that classes continued without interruption while addressing the situation. Police were notified after students had been dismissed for the day, and their presence on campus was not deemed necessary. Concerned parents are seeking information about the individuals mentioned on the alleged kill list. To support the emotional well-being of the students, classes were held online the following day. (Read more Indiana stories.)