Madison County School Employee Arrested Following Child Abuse Investigation

A Madison County paraeducator has been arrested after police say video evidence shows her assaulting a student inside a local elementary school gym.

According to Richmond Police, the investigation began on October 16 when a parent reported that their child had been assaulted by a staff member at White Hall Elementary School.

Police later obtained video of the incident, which allegedly shows the young student unclothed as an adult woman is seen pulling the child by her hair. A second clip reportedly shows the same woman standing over the student as the child tries to move away before being struck on the leg.

Investigators identified the suspect as Beverly Vanwinkle-Thompson, who serves as a paraeducator and instructional assistant at the school. Thompson was taken into custody at her home and interviewed by detectives before being booked into the Madison County Detention Center.

She is charged with second-degree criminal abuse of a child 12 or under and fourth-degree assault (child abuse).

Thompson remains listed on the school’s staff webpage as an instructional assistant.

This report was compiled using information gathered from law enforcement statements, official press releases, and publicly available news sources.