Indiana Teacher Found Dead in School Stairwell After Mysterious Disappearance

An Indiana educator was discovered dead in a school staircase just a few hours after she failed to show up outside the school to be picked up by a relative, according to the authorities. The teacher had been missing for many hours.

Craig Jones, 47, was discovered by maintenance staff on Friday morning on the second-floor stairwell landing at East Chicago Light House Charter School on Pulaski Street, according to a statement from the East Chicago Police Department on Facebook, as per Poeple.

Indiana Teacher's Mysterious Death Sparks Investigation

(Photo : Scott Olson/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 14: Crime scene tape hangs from a door knob outside of a tow company garage following a shooting where at least 15 people were reported to have been shot, two fatally, on March 14, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. The shooting took place at a party in an event space attached to the garage in the city's south side Park Manor neighborhood.

A preliminary investigation has unveiled concerning details surrounding the discovery of a deceased individual at a school in the vicinity of a city situated approximately 25 miles east of Chicago. The individual, identified as Jones, reportedly contacted his family members on Thursday evening, requesting transportation home around 10:30 p.m., subsequently indicating a need to work late.

However, upon the arrival of a family member at the specified time, Jones failed to emerge from the school premises. Subsequently, after receiving no further communication from him, the family member departed the scene, as communicated by law enforcement officials through a statement shared on social media platform Facebook.

The awful sequence that followed resulted in a call being sent to police officials at around 6:40 a.m. on the following day, which was the day after Jones's lifeless corpse was discovered within the boundaries of the school. According to Eric Graf, a deputy coroner representing the Lake County Coroner's Office, who spoke on the topic on Saturday, the specific circumstances surrounding his death are still being investigated. This was confirmed by Eric Graf.

The investigation into Jones's untimely passing has been assumed by the Lake County Prosecutor's Homicide Task Force, alongside the ongoing efforts of local law enforcement agencies. Notably, authorities stressed on Friday that, as of the present moment, there exists no indication of foul play associated with the incident, according to AP News.

Discrepancies in Jones's Plans

Jones's contact with his family on Thursday evening suggests he needed transportation home around 10:30 p.m., contradicting his earlier claim of working late.
But recognizing that Jones did not show up when a member of the family arrived caused a great deal of anxiety. The subsequent attempts to make touch with the individual were unsuccessful, which led to the decision to be reported to the authorities.

Law enforcement personnel were alerted to the situation at 6:40 a.m. on Friday following the discovery of Jones's remains at the school premises, located approximately 25 miles east of Chicago.

The inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Jones's demise is being spearheaded by the Lake County Coroner's Office, while the Lake County Prosecutor's Homicide Task Force is conducting a parallel investigation.

The detectives who are working on the investigation stated once again on Friday that, according to the evidence that is right now readily accessible, there is no reason to assume that Jones's death was the result of any kind of criminal activity, The Express reported.