schools
Former EPISD special education teacher indicted on 16 counts of injury to a child
By Gabrielle Lopez at KVIA ABC-7
· July 2, 2026
· 2 min read
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- A former special education teacher at a West El Paso elementary school faces 16 counts of injury to a child, according to documents ABC-7 obtained Thursday. Rachel Lucas, who worked at Charles Murphree School, allegedly injured students with special needs.
According to...
Key takeaway According to the 34th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, the case was indicted April 1.
Why this matters in The El Paso
The indictment of a former special education teacher at Charles Murphree School raises concerns about the safety and well-being of students with special needs in El Paso's schools. The allegations against Rachel Lucas, which include physical and emotional abuse of six students, are particularly troubling given the vulnerable population she was entrusted to teach and care for. The fact that camera footage reportedly captured some of the incidents suggests that the school had measures in place to monitor and prevent such abuse, but they were not sufficient to stop Lucas's alleged behavior. The community will be watching to see how the El Paso Independent School District responds to this incident and what steps it will take to prevent similar cases of abuse in the future. The district's handling of this situation will have significant implications for the trust and confidence that parents and students have in the school system.
About this story
Original reporting by KVIA ABC-7 . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KVIA ABC-7 . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: schools ·
Published: July 2, 2026 ·
Source: KVIA ABC-7 ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- A former special education teacher at a West El Paso elementary school faces 16 counts of injury to a child, according to documents ABC-7 obtained Thursday. Rachel Lucas, who worked at Charles Murphree School, allegedly injured students with special needs.
According to...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 2, 2026 by KVIA ABC-7 and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Gabrielle Lopez at KVIA ABC-7. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more schools coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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