MIDDLE TOWNSHIP, N.J. (WKRC) – An elementary school teacher was taken into custody after she allegedly sexually abused a former student and gave birth to his child.
According to The New York Post, citing the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, 34-year-old Laura Caron was accused of sexually abusing an former student while they lived together between 2016 and 2020. The publication reported that Caron taught the victim and his brother during their fifth grade year at Middle Township Elementary School in New Jersey.
WPVI reported that the victim and his family were close with the teacher, with the family allowing their sons and daughter to stay at her house a few nights a week. The victim was 13 when the child was born in 2019, per the station.
The Post reported that the three siblings lived permanently with Caron between 2016 and 2020.
WPVI reported that the investigation was brought to light after the victim’s father wrote in a post to Facebook in December that Caron’s five-year-old child looked similar him and his son. The victim’s sister told investigators that she recalled falling asleep in the same room as the boy, but woke to find him in Caron’s bed, WPVI reported. The girl claimed Caron first began sleeping with her brother when he was 11 years old, per the station.
The victim’s older teen brother alleged that he had seen Caron abusing his brother while he was asleep, The Post reported. In an alleged text message, the victim reportedly admitted to his sister that he was the father of the child, but asked that it be kept a secret, per WPVI.
Caron was arrested Wednesday and charged with the following, per the publication:
- Aggravated sexual assault
- Sexual assault
- Endangering the welfare of a child
According to The Post, court docs show Caron is being held at the Cape May County Correctional Facility without bond until a court appearance.
A report from CBS states that the Middle Township School District has placed Caron on paid administrative leave, and is cooperating with authorities.
“This arrest underscores the unwavering commitment of our office and law enforcement partners to protect the children in our community. Teachers hold a position of great trust, and the allegations in this case represent a deeply troubling breach of that trust. We will work tirelessly to ensure justice is served and to support the victim and their family throughout this process,” Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffery Sutherland said, per The Post.
