A former special education teacher at Charles Q. Murphree PK‑8 in El Paso is facing a sweeping felony case that has shaken a campus built to serve some of the city’s most vulnerable students. The teacher, Rachael Lucas, was indicted this spring on multiple child-injury counts after her arrest and a separate civil lawsuit that was filed later in 2025. Both the criminal case and the civil claim are still active.
Allegations caught on classroom video
According to KFOX14/CBS4, a grand jury indicted Lucas in April on 16 felony counts of injury to a child with intent to cause bodily injury. Prosecutors say the case centers on classroom video that allegedly shows Lucas striking children with a broom, kicking a chair, and using a cellphone, a dustpan, and toys to hit students.
As reported by KVIA, Lucas was arrested on June 26, 2025, originally booked on six counts after investigators reviewed footage they say documented injuries to six non‑verbal students. A parent told KVIA the district waited close to two weeks before alerting families and said parents have repeatedly asked to see the video. El Paso ISD has said Lucas is no longer employed by the district.
Civil suit lays out parents' allegations
Court filings obtained by KFOX14/CBS4 show one family filed a lawsuit on Sept. 30, 2025. The suit alleges their three‑year‑old non‑verbal son was abused in Lucas’s classroom and seeks more than $1 million in damages, along with coverage of medical and psychological treatment costs. The complaint also names paraprofessional David Gonzales, who was arrested last year and is accused in court records of striking a child with an open hand.
Investigations and oversight
The Texas Education Agency has opened a review into both Lucas and Gonzales, and criminal proceedings against Lucas are now moving through the courts as prosecutors prepare for pretrial hearings, KVIA reported. District officials say they are cooperating with law enforcement and state regulators while families continue to demand answers about how staff members with alleged red flags were allowed to work in classrooms with students who could not speak for themselves.
