Therapist Hired to Help 5-Year-Old Boy With Anxiety Accused of Hitting Him in the Face With a Hard Lunchbox at School

A Tennessee therapist entrusted with helping a young child manage anxiety and behavioral challenges is now facing a serious criminal charge after allegedly striking the 5-year-old boy in the face with a hard lunchbox at school. The incident has left the child’s family shaken and raised troubling questions about the safety of children who depend on specialized support during the school day. According to authorities, the woman was arrested following the alleged assault at an elementary school in Paris, Tennessee.

The suspect, Jennifer Reynolds, 54, has been charged with aggravated child abuse, according to the Henry County Sheriff’s Department. Investigators say the incident took place on October 6, 2026, at Rhea Elementary School. Reynolds allegedly struck the child on the right side of his face with a hard lunchbox in a hallway inside the school. The allegations have not yet been tested in court, and Reynolds is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

The boy had been assigned an applied behavior analysis, or ABA, therapist to provide one-on-one assistance with challenges he might experience at school. ABA therapy is commonly used to help children develop communication, social and everyday skills, while supporting them with behavioral difficulties. In this case, the child’s family said the therapist’s role was to help him navigate anxiety and other challenges throughout the school day. His mother explained that they wanted someone who would support him and help him feel secure while he was at school.

Instead, the family says, the situation took a deeply distressing turn. According to the boy’s parents, school officials notified them immediately after the alleged incident. Reynolds was escorted off campus, and the child was taken to the school nurse for assessment. Although the reported response by school staff offered some reassurance to the family, the allegation against someone specifically assigned to support their son has understandably undermined their trust in the therapy arrangement.

Speaking to local television station WBBJ, the boy’s mother, Emily Dotson, said she felt the school had responded appropriately and that she was comfortable with her son returning to Rhea Elementary School. However, she made clear that the family would no longer use the ABA company involved. Her decision reflects the difficult position parents can face when a service intended to help their child becomes the subject of a serious safety concern.

Reynolds was arrested on October 8, two days after the reported incident. She was booked into custody and released on bond later that same day. She is expected to appear in court on October 20, 2026. The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services is also conducting an investigation, according to WBBJ. School officials and the county education board had been contacted for comment, but the news station reported that it had not received a response because of the school’s fall break.

The case has brought renewed attention to the responsibility placed on professionals who work closely with young children, particularly those who need additional emotional or behavioral support. Families rely on therapists and school staff to provide patience, guidance and a safe environment for children who may struggle to express their needs or explain what has happened to them. As the legal process moves forward, the family’s priority remains their son’s well-being and ensuring that he receives the support he needs in a safe setting.

Sources: Law&Crime