Kentucky School Assistant Arrested After Video Shows Incident With Disabled Student
RICHMOND, KENTUCKY — A 63-year-old instructional assistant in the Madison County School District has been charged with second-degree criminal abuse and fourth-degree assault after a disturbing video surfaced showing her pulling a 7-year-old disabled student by the hair inside a local elementary school gym.
Police arrested Beverly Vanwinkle-Thompson on October 21 following an interview with investigators. The alleged incident took place on October 16 at Whitehall Elementary School, according to Richmond police and court documents.
Video Footage Shows Disturbing Classroom Incident
Investigators began looking into the case after the child’s father reported the matter to police. Court records indicate that surveillance footage captured a student — who was unclothed at the time — being dragged by their hair from the gym doors to underneath a basketball goal by Vanwinkle-Thompson.
Another clip reportedly showed her standing over the student as they attempted to push her away. The charging documents note that she then smacked the child on the leg.
School officials confirmed to police that the student had moderate to severe disabilities, and that the incident occurred during a supervised activity session in the gymnasium.
Vanwinkle-Thompson’s Statement to Police
When questioned, Vanwinkle-Thompson told officers the student had become upset after not being allowed to walk on a balance beam, leading to the child undressing in frustration. She claimed that no other staff members stepped in to help manage the situation and emphasized her 18 years of experience working with students who have similar disabilities.
Despite her explanation, the Richmond Police Department determined that her actions violated child abuse and assault laws due to the physical nature of the contact and the student’s vulnerable condition.
School District Responds to Allegations
The Madison County School District confirmed that Vanwinkle-Thompson was placed on administrative leave immediately after the incident. Reports later surfaced that she had resigned on October 17, one day after being placed on leave, though she still appeared as a para-educator and instructional assistant on the district’s website as of Friday afternoon.
The district’s superintendent did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding her employment status or whether additional disciplinary actions are pending.
Vanwinkle-Thompson is currently free on bond and is scheduled to appear in court on November 18 for her arraignment.
As Kentucky parents and educators await further updates, the case has renewed discussions about special education training and accountability within school systems. For ongoing coverage of education, community safety, and local news across Kentucky, visit ChicagoMusicGuide.com.