Conroe teacher accused of leaving chicks in the woods to die

CONROE -- Conroe ISD police are investigating how dozens of chicks in the agriculture department of a local high school wound up dead. Eyewitness News has learned a former FFA teacher is under investigation.

It’s an unusual case unfolding at Oak Ridge High School. The chicks were supposed to be shown at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

"To see what I saw, it's heartbreaking," said Oak Ridge FFA student Haley Castro. Castro says she found 50 chicks Wednesday night that had been discarded in the woods near the FFA barn. She saved 13, but 37 froze to death.

Her FFA teacher, who is no longer at the school, is accused of dumping them. "It was very difficult as an ag student and being in FFA, having your ag teachers tell you love your animals and to have someone do this on our property, it's really heartbreaking," said Castro.

Parents and students tell us the teacher who'd been there for about three years had just sent a letter to students and parents saying she would not be teaching there after February 3. Wednesday night's discovery has many wondering about a motive.

"You don't do that to innocent little chicks," said FFA student Dustin Garrison. "You have them for one day and you throw them out in the woods? You just don't do that."

We are not naming the teacher, since she is not charged, but a Precinct 4 livestock officer and Conroe ISD police are both investigating the case. For FFA students, it is news that's very hard to take. "I want justice to be given to that person," said Castro.

A Conroe ISD spokesperson released the following statement: "The incident is currently under investigation by the Conroe ISD police department. The teacher notified the Oak Ridge High School principal yesterday of the resignation."