In a disturbing incident that has shocked the community, five school employees in Barnegat, New Jersey, have been fired after an 8-year-old student with autism was found bound with tape in a classroom at Brackman Middle School.
The child’s mother, Kasi Spinelli, shared the unsettling details of the event with News 12 New Jersey, recounting the phone calls she received from a school resource officer. According to Spinelli, the officer first informed her that her daughter’s wrists had been bound with tape. A short time later, the officer called again to say that tape was also placed over her daughter’s mouth.
Spinelli further revealed that she was shown photos of her non-verbal daughter, who appeared to be bound with tape in different outfits — a detail that led her to believe the restraining incident may have occurred on multiple days.
Following the disturbing revelations, the Barnegat School District took immediate action. Superintendent Brian Latwis confirmed to PEOPLE that the Board of Education upheld a recommendation to terminate one teacher and four paraprofessionals involved in the incident. Their identities have not been released publicly.
While the Barnegat Police conducted a review of the situation and concluded that no crime had been committed, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office has opened an active investigation into the incident, which remains ongoing.
In an emotional YouTube video shared by Spinelli’s legal team, the mother described the trauma her daughter endured, stating that she was bound with painters’ tape. The heartbreaking video highlighted Spinelli’s struggles to communicate with her daughter, who cannot verbally express herself.
“She can’t come home and tell me how her day is,” Spinelli said. “The most I can get out of her is a thumbs up or thumbs down.”
Spinelli explained that, because her daughter couldn’t explain what had happened, she felt forced to take matters into her own hands. Concerned about possible sexual abuse, the mother took her daughter to the emergency room for tests to ensure her safety and well-being.
“I had to do my own investigation to figure out what happened because she can’t come forth and tell me,” Spinelli added.
The incident has sparked outrage, with many questioning how such a violation of trust could occur in a school environment meant to care for vulnerable students.
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