Crime
Texas Teachers Trena Henshaw and Sydney Madill Caught on Video Injuring 5-Year-Old Autistic Boy
BRAZORIA COUNTY, Texas — Two elementary school teachers have been terminated after surveillance footage surfaced showing them physically assaulting a 5-year-old nonverbal autistic student at Wild Peach Elementary School in Columbia-Brazoria Independent School District.
The educators, identified as Trena Henshaw and Sydney Madill, were captured on camera during two separate incidents on October 30.
According to school officials, both have since been fired, but the child’s mother, Guadalupe Rodriguez, says termination is not enough — she is demanding full criminal accountability.
Surveillance video from the classroom reportedly shows one teacher violently slamming the boy to the floor.
Less than an hour earlier, another clip appears to show the same teacher dropping him.
A separate video later in the day shows a different teacher kicking the child’s injured ankle while attempting to force him to walk, despite visible signs of pain.
Rodriguez described the experience of watching the footage as “devastating,” saying her son’s disability made the abuse even more disturbing.
“This is trauma that my son and I will carry forever,” Rodriguez said. “I dropped to my knees and cried. I never expected to see my son treated that way.”
She noticed something was wrong when her son returned home limping that afternoon. Concerned, she immediately took him to urgent care, where doctors diagnosed him with a fractured and sprained ankle.
Rodriguez returned to the school the next day demanding answers. When the principal allowed her to review surveillance footage, she discovered multiple incidents showing her son being mistreated and ignored.
“My son was showing signs of distress, and not one teacher stopped to check on him,” she said. “Nobody cared.”
In a letter to parents, Wild Peach Elementary’s principal confirmed that the incident had been reported to both the Texas Education Agency and the Columbia-Brazoria ISD Police Department, which has referred the case to the Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office for review.
Although both teachers have been terminated, Rodriguez says that isn’t enough.
“Part of me is relieved, but I’m not satisfied,” she said. “They’re still walking free.”
Her son has not returned to Wild Peach Elementary since the incident, and Rodriguez says she is now consulting with attorneys to explore legal action.
The Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office has not yet confirmed whether criminal charges will be filed.
Donovan Joshua Leigh Metayer, a 26-year-old survivor of the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, died by suicide on December 15, according to a statement shared by his family.
Metayer had endured significant mental health challenges for several years following the traumatic attack that claimed the lives of 17 people.
Metayer was a senior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School at the time of the February 14, 2018 shooting.
His family said the trauma of that day, coupled with the loss of classmates and the long-term psychological effects of the event, profoundly altered the trajectory of his life.
In the years that followed, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and struggled with depression, survivor’s guilt, emotional instability, and extended periods of isolation.
Despite these challenges, Metayer remained deeply loved by his family, who described him as intelligent, humorous, and compassionate. He underwent years of treatment that included therapy, psychiatric care, medication, and multiple hospitalizations related to suicidal ideation.
His sister, who shared the news of his death publicly, said he fought a seven-year battle with mental illness.
In recent years, Metayer made notable efforts to rebuild his life. He earned an information technology certification, secured employment at Office Depot, and received ongoing care through the Henderson Behavioral Health Clinic and a private psychiatrist.
His family said these steps reflected his determination to move forward despite persistent struggles.
Following a mental health crisis in 2021, Metayer was legally prohibited from purchasing a firearm under a Risk Protection Order.
That order expired earlier this month.
According to his family, within days of the order lapsing, he legally obtained a handgun and died by suicide at his home.
In the wake of his death, Metayer’s family has established a GoFundMe campaign to assist with funeral expenses and to create a fund in his name at the Henderson Behavioral Health Clinic.
The fund is intended to support individuals facing behavioral health challenges and to improve access to mental health care in Florida.
His family said they hope his story serves as a reminder of the long-term effects of trauma and the urgent need for sustained mental health support, particularly for survivors of mass violence.
Those close to Metayer emphasized that his life mattered and that his death underscores the ongoing mental health crisis affecting young people across the country.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges or thoughts of suicide, help is available.
In the United States, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be reached by calling or texting 988, or by visiting 988lifeline.org. Support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.