Teachers Threatened to Pour Hot Sauce Down Autistic Child's Throat

ABILENE, TX – A Craig Middle School teacher and teacher’s aide are under police investigation after they allegedly abused a special needs boy at Craig Middle School. Danny Jay and Steven Gray are accused of threating to pour hot sauce down an autistic 13-year-old’s throat.

According to KTXS, a nurse’s aide first witnessed Jay and Gray mistreat the child when he attempted to communicate. In addition to being on the autism spectrum, the child is non-verbal.

"They would pull him around by the collar and slam him down on the bean bag," said the family member.

A family member claims the nurse’s aide told former principal Joey Gonzales about the issues, but that nothing was done. They had no idea the abuse was going on until they were contacted by the police regarding the allegations the nurse had made against the teachers.

"She tried to go to the principal and say what was going on," said the family member.

The nurse's aide was present during the hot sauce incident and "took a picture of the child being held down and Jay holding a bottle of hot sauce threatening to put it in the boy's mouth to shut him up.”

"Because he was so loud, they mishandled him down to a bean bag and threatened to pour hot sauce, said I'm gonna pour hot sauce," said the family member.

The nurse decided to go outside of the District to address the issue and contacted CPS and the Abilene Police Department.

Abilene ISD disciplined and removed the staff members after police and CPS got involved. Jay was fired on December 9 and is under investigation by Abilene police. They have turned over their findings to the Taylor County District Attorney's Office.

Gray is also under investigation and was placed on administrative leave. Both men are currently under review by the Texas Education Agency.

Principal Gonzales was suspended and then reassigned for failing to report the incident.

The victim's family said the child's outlook about going to school has changed.

"He doesn't mind going to school. He's kind of upbeat now because he doesn't have these two people in his life," said the family member.