A newly unsealed search warrant shows Durham Police are investigating possible abuse of a child with a disability at the hands of the adults in her classroom.
WRAL is not naming the two educators mentioned in the warrant, because as of Wednesday afternoon, they have not been charged with a crime.
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The two warrants were executed on Jan. 15 at Durham Public Schools headquarters for all HR and employment information of two educators, and any photos or correspondence about the abuse of a 6-year-old girl.
The warrants say in November of 2024, "the principal of Eno Valley Elementary, Tounya Wright, received a photo slipped under her door by an anonymous person. The photo showed [the child] tied to a chair with a jump rope."
The warrant lists the victim's initials; WRAL is not including those initials to protect her identity.
According to the warrant, the principal said DPS would not share the photograph with law enforcement "without an order from the court."
A substitute teacher is quoted in the warrant saying she witnessed one of the other teachers tie up the child "because she was frustrated with her humming and interrupting other students."
That substitute teacher said she also witnessed the girl being untied at the end of another day, and that a third teacher in the classroom did not stop or report the other educator.
The warrant says the child's mother reported she had come home with "unexplained bruises from school" and was told that her daughter was "falling" at school.
The child had bruising on her stomach and hips, and had came home with a busted lip that required her to be taken to her pediatrician.
The warrant says both educators in the classroom were placed on administrative leave after the photograph was given to the principal. Both later resigned. It is not clear when that happened, or what internal investigations were conducted by DPS.
WRAL News reached out to Durham Public Schools asking how and when law enforcement were notified of the alleged abuse, whether the principal at the school followed protocol, and the timeline of any internal investigations.
The district provided the following statement: "This matter is currently under investigation, and due to personnel privacy limitations, no further information is available."
Durham police issued this statement about their investigation:
"We checked with investigators, and we are able to confirm that our officers responded to a report of child abuse at Eno Valley Elementary School at 117 Milton Road at 4:52 p.m. on November 25, 2024. The investigation is ongoing and no charges have been filed at this time. Since no charges have been filed, we are unable to confirm the names of any individuals who may be connected to this incident. "