A teacher from East Chicago Lighthouse Charter School in northwest Indiana was found dead in a school stairwell, according to local authorities. The deceased, identified as 47-year-old Craig Jones, was discovered by the school’s maintenance staff the morning after he failed to meet a family member who had come to pick him up.
The initial investigation revealed that Jones had contacted his family on Thursday night, requesting a ride home around 10:30 p.m. He had informed them that he needed to return to work late. However, when the family member arrived at the school, Jones did not exit the building. After failing to hear from Jones, the family member eventually left the school premises.
The following morning, at approximately 6:40 a.m., police were summoned to the school after Jones’ body was discovered. The school is located about 25 miles east of Chicago.
Eric Graf, the Deputy Coroner, stated that the cause of Jones’ death remains undetermined. The Lake County Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force, which is investigating the incident, has found no evidence to suggest foul play.
At this time, it is unknown whether Jones had any pre-existing health conditions or if he had expressed feeling unwell when he called his family member for a ride.
In a separate incident in late 2023, a special education teacher in the Chicago area was tragically killed by her ex-boyfriend, who had a history of violent behavior. The assailant had previously shot an Illinois State Police trooper in Springfield, Illinois.
The victim, 37-year-old Adrianna Lopez, was shot multiple times outside her home in late October 2023. Her sister, Norma Lopez, described her as a caring and joyful person who loved her family and others. The family learned about the tragic incident through social media, expressing frustration at the lack of communication from the Chicago Police Department.