Warning: This story contains graphic information.

By Don Munsch

Editor

A former Mexico Public Schools teacher turned herself in March 20 for a warrant that charges her with two counts of sexual contact with a student.

Janae Marie Nunnelly of Mexico taught at Eugene Field Elementary School. Her employment was severed by the school district on Feb. 28, when the board voted to terminate her teaching contract. She is being held at Audrain County Jail, and her bond is set at $250,000. A warrant was issued on March 13. 

Nunnelly began her employment with the district as a paraprofessional in September 2020, according to district records. The school district released this statement March 20:

“Mexico Public Schools cooperated in an investigation with Mexico Public Safety regarding allegations of misconduct involving a former teacher. 

“We take all allegations regarding inappropriate behavior of employees seriously and maintain strict policies regarding such conduct. Our schools are places where students should always feel safe, and we take any allegation of misconduct by a staff member very seriously.  

“While state and federal confidentiality laws prohibit the district from sharing protected information about staff members or students, it is important that our Bulldog families and community know we are committed to the safety and well-being of all Mexico students.”

A probable cause affidavit stated that the Mexico Public Safety Department was informed by the school district on Feb. 25 that one of the employees of the district, Nunnelly, had been engaged in a sexual relationship with a currently enrolled student. 

“MPSD was also notified Nunnelly had been engaged in a sexual relationship with a previous student when he was attending a school in the district,” the affidavit stated. “MPSD was notified 

Nunnelly was an employee of the district during both sexual engagements.”

MPSD contacted Victim 1, who is a current student of a school in the local school district. The victim stated in the affidavit that he engaged in vaginal sexual intercourse two times around June 2024 with Nunnelly. Both times, he met with Nunnelly in Laddonia, and she transported him to her residence in Mexico. The victim stated Nunnelly had vaginal intercourse in her bedroom, in her bed. He stated Nunnelly added him on a social media platform prior to the sexual contact around May 2024 and they spoke and then arranged a meeting to engage in sexual intercourse. 

The affidavit stated that MPSD contacted Victim 2 who, while attending a school in the local school district, had multiple sexual encounters with Nunnelly, between March 2022 and April 2022. The victim stated Nunnelly engaged in oral sex with him, and vaginal sex between 15 and 25 times while attending the school in the local school district. He stated Nunnelly added him on a social media platform around March 2022 and April 2022, and they spoke for some time before engaging in a sexual relationship. He stated he continued a sexual relationship with Nunnelly until early 2024. He graduated from the school in 2022. 

ln a post-Miranda interview, Nunnelly stated she engaged in a sexual relationship with Victim 2, and noted he had already graduated from school. Nunnelly stated she engaged in oral sex and vaginal intercourse with Victim 2 multiple times. Nunnelly stated after exchanging phone numbers with Victim 1 in May 2024, she began messaging him. 

Nunnelly stated Victim 1 assisted her in summer school duties in June 2024. Nunnelly stated after summer school ended she met Victim 1 on two occasions in Laddonia and transported him to her residence in Mexico and engaged in vaginal intercourse with Victim 1 in her bedroom in her bed.