Garner High School teacher unexpectedly dies 3 days after being suspended, according to Wake County Public School System

Jake Stevens was a career and technical education teacher at Garner Magnet High School. Stevens died Monday night, just three days after he was suspended.

Posted 12:23 a.m. Jan 18, 2023 — Updated 5:16 p.m. Jan 19, 2023

WRAL Staff

GARNER, N.C. — A Garner Magnet High School teacher died Monday night, the school's principal wrote in a letter to families.

Jake Stevens was a career and technical education (CTE) teacher at GMHS for 16 years and a graduate of the school, according to Principal Matt Price's letter.

"It is with great sadness that I write this note to let you know that one of our CTE Teachers, Jake Stevens, died last night, unexpectedly," Price wrote in a letter to families. "Our condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to his family and his friends and coworkers."

The Wake County Public School System said Stevens was suspended with pay on Jan. 13, days before his death.

There is no known connection between his suspension and death. Stevens' cause of death is not known at this time.

A tribute posted to Facebook by Stevens' father said the teacher leaves behind a wife and 15-year-old son. GMHS also posted on Facebook, asking students to wear school colors on Friday in honor of the teacher.

WRAL learned last week Stevens was named in a warrant related to a drug deal that occurred on campus.

It's not clear if that investigation was the reason for suspension.

Stevens was not facing any criminal charges at the time of his death.

Arrest made last week on Garner Magnet High School campus

Last week, Garner Magnet High School leaders sent a letter to parents about an arrest on campus by Garner police officers.

"Deborah Romanus, an unauthorized adult visitor at our school, was arrested ... and charged with possession with intent to distribute drugs," the letter reads. "Though the arrest took place on our campus, we have been informed by law enforcement that these allegations did not appear to involve any of our students, and Ms. Romanus did not speak to or come into contact with any GMHS students."

According to a report from Garner police, a teacher at Garner Magnet High School was supposed to meet up on Jan. 13 with a woman on school property to buy drugs.

The report identifies Romanus as the woman selling drugs. It also identifies the teacher planning to buy them as "Jake, the auto mechanic teacher."

WRAL News has learned "Jake" is Jake Stevens.

Romanus is facing three felony drug charges.

The report states officers received an anonymous tip that a drug sale was going to happen in the parking lot. An officer went to the school and found Romanus with 8 grams of oxycodone pills.

According to the report, Romanus told the officer she has cancer. It also states Romanus "admitted to being at the school to meet with Jake" to sell him the pills, which had been prescribed to her.

Garner police and the Wake County Sheriff's Office said the investigation is ongoing. Police said at the time of Steven's death, he had not been charged.

On Monday, Romanus posted $50,000 bond after authorities were holding her at the Wake County Jail.

Former students, teachers post tributes to Stevens on social media

Former students of Stevens are posting tributes on social media.

"Mr. Stevens was a major impact on my life and so many others," one former student wrote. "I was one of his first students back 2006.

"Stevens chanced my knucklehead ways of throwing paper in automotive class ... into something constructive. Mr. Stevens helped so many on and off the football field. It has been an honor having you as a teacher and a friend."

Another coworker wrote, "With sad heart, one of the best CTE teachers in Wake County, Jake Stevens from Garner High School died [Monday] night. I had personal opportunity to share work experiences with Jake. He cared just as much his students as any teacher in Wake County. Please pray for his family."

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