In Tennessee, an elementary school teacher has come under scrutiny after her own children accused her of abusive behavior, according to law enforcement officials.

Heather Pecht, aged 47, was taken into custody by officers from the Chattanooga Police Department last Friday, facing two charges of child neglect. Local media outlet Chattanoogan.com reports that Pecht’s younger children informed their father of an alleged incident where their mother assaulted them in a vehicle parked at Ruby Falls in Lookout Mountain. The father, upon noticing healing scratches on their hands, inquired about their origin. The children then reportedly pointed to their mother, Pecht, as the cause of their injuries.

The court documents state that the incident occurred in the backseat of their car while parked at Ruby Falls. Pecht’s phone had ended up with the children, prompting her to demand its return. In the process of retrieving the phone, Pecht allegedly pinched and scratched one child, while the other child was bitten as he attempted to shield his sibling from harm.

The children’s father, who resides separately from Pecht, contacted the police after the children were returned to him. Officers arrived at his residence on Friday night, where he disclosed that he had previously reported Pecht’s alleged abusive actions without any resolution. Their eldest child resides with the father, reportedly due to a desire to avoid contact with their mother, as mentioned in the court filings.

Police reported that all three children consistently recounted a history of abuse by Pecht, claiming it had been occurring weekly over several years. Officers observed injuries on the children matching the father’s description. Both the father and his children participated in interviews at the Child Advocacy Center, corroborating each other’s accounts. Subsequently, emergency custody of the three children was awarded to their father.

Birmingham, Alabama-based ABC affiliate WBMA reported that Pecht is employed as a first-grade teacher at Lookout Mountain Elementary School. Hamilton County Schools did not provide a comment on her employment status.

Pecht was arrested on Friday and charged with two counts of child neglect. She posted bond and is scheduled to appear in court again on Jan. 27, 2026.