Arrests have been made in connection with the abuse of special needs children at Smyrna Elementary School

SMYRNA, Del. – Police say “disturbing behavior” in a local special education classroom led to a months-long investigation that ended with the arrest of three female employees.

Marrisa Johnson, 26; Makayla Lomax, 31; and Morgan Donahue, 21, have been charged with abusing and neglecting children with special needs at Smyrna Elementary School.

Police say all three suspects allegedly threw objects at the students, yelled and cursed at them.

In addition to these charges, Lomax is accused of hitting a student and then spraying him with a water bottle as discipline.

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According to police, Johnson and Donahue allegedly terrorized a student with a digestive disorder in 2022 by feeding them hot sauce and hot Takis.

All three employees are charged with endangering the welfare of a child, while Lomax is additionally charged with child abuse.

The Smyrna School District says none of the accused employees currently have contact with students at the school.

“The employees in question have not been in the presence of our students since the district was informed of the alleged abuses. Most of the people involved no longer work for the district. As for other employees, the district will respect the privacy of employees. rights regarding separation from work, and we will submit our reports to the Department of Education’s Division of Licensing and Certification,” the district said in a statement released Wednesday.