Three Charged in Abuse of Child With Disability at Durham Charter School

DURHAM, NC – The Durham Police Department’s Special Victims Unit has arrested three individuals following an extensive child abuse investigation stemming from an incident at Research Triangle Charter Academy. The investigation began in August 2024, with recent indictments issued in connection to the case.

On August 21, 2024, around 6:32 p.m., officers responded to a child abuse report at the charter school on Ellis Road. The investigation revealed that Jeremy Raekwon Whitley, 28, a school employee from Durham, allegedly assaulted a student who is younger than 12 and lives with a disability, resulting in serious physical injuries.

Whitley was indicted on multiple charges, including felony child abuse inflicting serious physical injury, aggravated assault on an individual with a disability, misdemeanor child abuse, and assault on a child under 12. He turned himself in on November 7 and was booked into the Durham County Jail. He has since been released on a $50,000 secured bond.

Two other school employees, Nicole Ann Scotto, 35, of Clayton, and Melanie Butler Stack, 47, of Durham, were indicted on charges of felony obstruction of justice and failure to report child abuse. Both Scotto and Stack were released on unsecured bonds. According to the school’s website, Scotto serves as the Dean of Special Education, Academic Intervention, and ELL Services.

The Durham Police Department urges anyone with additional information to contact Investigator C. Park at 919-560-4440 ext. 29321 or to submit an anonymous tip via CrimeStoppers at durhamcrimestoppers.org or (919) 683-1200. CrimeStoppers offers cash rewards of up to $2,000 for information leading to arrests in felony cases.