LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Tenn. — A Tennessee elementary school teacher was arrested after her own children accused her of physical abuse, police say.
Heather Pecht, 47, a first-grade teacher at Lookout Mountain Elementary School, was charged with two counts of child neglect by the Chattanooga Police Department on Friday. Court documents obtained by local news outlet Chattanoogan.com detail the alleged incident.
According to reports, Pecht’s two younger children were in the back seat of a car at Ruby Falls in Lookout Mountain when her phone ended up there. Pecht reportedly demanded the children return the phone, and as they tried, she allegedly pinched and scratched one child. During the incident, the other child was bitten while attempting to protect their sibling.
The children’s father, who lives separately from Pecht, noticed healing scratches on their hands and asked what had happened. The children said Pecht was responsible, and he called police after the children were returned to him. Court records indicate that the father had previously reported Pecht’s alleged abusive behavior, but no action was taken. The couple’s oldest child lives with the father, reportedly to avoid being around Pecht.
Police said all three children reported that the alleged abuse had been occurring weekly for years. Officers confirmed the injuries and interviewed the children and father at the Child Advocacy Center. Emergency custody of all three children was granted to their father.
Pecht posted bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 27, 2026. Hamilton County Schools did not comment on her employment status.
Leave a Reply