Topline: Authorities report that Heather Pecht, a local first-grade teacher, faces child abuse charges after her children told officers she pinched, scratched, and bit them.
Published: December 30, 2025 2:12 pm ET
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Heather Pecht (via CPD)
CHATTANOOGA, TN — A first-grade teacher has been arrested following allegations that she scratched and bit her own children during an incident in a parking lot.
According to an arrest report cited by WRCB, Chattanooga Police Department officers investigated allegations of child neglect stemming from a December 12 incident.
Police say two children were found with scratches and scabs covering their hands. The children were not students of the teacher, identified as Heather Pecht, a first-grade teacher at Lookout Mountain Elementary School.
WTVC reports that officers were first contacted after being called to the Lookout Mountain Police Department, where the children’s father told authorities he had just picked them up from Pecht and noticed visible injuries on their hands.
According to an affidavit obtained by WTVC, the father said the children told him their mother caused the injuries.
The affidavit states that the father also told police the alleged abuse was not new. He claimed he had attempted to report years of abuse involving Pecht and their oldest child to law enforcement agencies in Dunlap and Marion County, but said neither department took action.
According to the Chattanoogan, the father said the oldest child now lives with him because he “does not want to be around his mother.”
Police say the children described what happened on December 12 while sitting in the back seat of Pecht’s car in the Ruby Falls parking lot.
According to WRCB and WTVC, the children told officers that Pecht’s phone fell into the back seat and that she became angry, screaming at them to retrieve it. As they tried to hand the phone back, the children said Pecht pinched and scratched them. One child told police they got out of the car to get away from her, while another said Pecht bit him on the hand as he tried to push her away to stop her from hurting them.
Both WRCB and the Chattanoogan report that the children told officers incidents like this had been happening about once a week for years. The affidavit cited by WTVC says the oldest child made similar claims.
Officers documented scabbing, scratches, red marks and what appeared to be fingernail imprints on the children’s hands and arms, injuries police said were consistent with the children’s statements, according to all three outlets. The children later repeated their claims during forensic interviews at the Child Advocacy Center, WTVC reports. The father was granted emergency custody of the two younger children.
Public arrest records show Pecht was arrested on Friday, December 26, according to WRCB and WTVC. WRCB reports she is charged with two counts of child neglect, while WTVC and the Chattanoogan report she faces two counts of child abuse. She is scheduled to appear in court on January 27, 2026, according to WRCB.
Police noted in the affidavit that Pecht teaches first grade at Lookout Mountain Elementary School. Both WRCB and WTVC report that Hamilton County Schools has been contacted regarding her employment status, and a response is still pending.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Police: First-Grade Teacher Allegedly Scratched and Bit Own Children
Authorities report that Heather Pecht, a local first-grade teacher, faces child abuse charges after her children told officers she pinched, scratched, and bit them.
By Jacob Charles
Published: December 30, 2025 2:12 pm ET
Heather Pecht (via CPD)
CHATTANOOGA, TN — A first-grade teacher has been arrested following allegations that she scratched and bit her own children during an incident in a parking lot.
According to an arrest report cited by WRCB, Chattanooga Police Department officers investigated allegations of child neglect stemming from a December 12 incident.
Police say two children were found with scratches and scabs covering their hands. The children were not students of the teacher, identified as Heather Pecht, a first-grade teacher at Lookout Mountain Elementary School.
WTVC reports that officers were first contacted after being called to the Lookout Mountain Police Department, where the children’s father told authorities he had just picked them up from Pecht and noticed visible injuries on their hands.
According to an affidavit obtained by WTVC, the father said the children told him their mother caused the injuries.
The affidavit states that the father also told police the alleged abuse was not new. He claimed he had attempted to report years of abuse involving Pecht and their oldest child to law enforcement agencies in Dunlap and Marion County, but said neither department took action.
According to the Chattanoogan, the father said the oldest child now lives with him because he “does not want to be around his mother.”
Police say the children described what happened on December 12 while sitting in the back seat of Pecht’s car in the Ruby Falls parking lot.
According to WRCB and WTVC, the children told officers that Pecht’s phone fell into the back seat and that she became angry, screaming at them to retrieve it. As they tried to hand the phone back, the children said Pecht pinched and scratched them. One child told police they got out of the car to get away from her, while another said Pecht bit him on the hand as he tried to push her away to stop her from hurting them.
Both WRCB and the Chattanoogan report that the children told officers incidents like this had been happening about once a week for years. The affidavit cited by WTVC says the oldest child made similar claims.
Officers documented scabbing, scratches, red marks and what appeared to be fingernail imprints on the children’s hands and arms, injuries police said were consistent with the children’s statements, according to all three outlets. The children later repeated their claims during forensic interviews at the Child Advocacy Center, WTVC reports. The father was granted emergency custody of the two younger children.
Public arrest records show Pecht was arrested on Friday, December 26, according to WRCB and WTVC. WRCB reports she is charged with two counts of child neglect, while WTVC and the Chattanoogan report she faces two counts of child abuse. She is scheduled to appear in court on January 27, 2026, according to WRCB.
Police noted in the affidavit that Pecht teaches first grade at Lookout Mountain Elementary School. Both WRCB and WTVC report that Hamilton County Schools has been contacted regarding her employment status, and a response is still pending.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Police: First-Grade Teacher Allegedly Scratched and Bit Own Children
Authorities report that Heather Pecht, a local first-grade teacher, faces child abuse charges after her children told officers she pinched, scratched, and bit them.
By Jacob Charles
Published: December 30, 2025 2:12 pm ET
Heather Pecht (via CPD)
CHATTANOOGA, TN — A first-grade teacher has been arrested following allegations that she scratched and bit her own children during an incident in a parking lot.
According to an arrest report cited by WRCB, Chattanooga Police Department officers investigated allegations of child neglect stemming from a December 12 incident.
Police say two children were found with scratches and scabs covering their hands. The children were not students of the teacher, identified as Heather Pecht, a first-grade teacher at Lookout Mountain Elementary School.
WTVC reports that officers were first contacted after being called to the Lookout Mountain Police Department, where the children’s father told authorities he had just picked them up from Pecht and noticed visible injuries on their hands.
According to an affidavit obtained by WTVC, the father said the children told him their mother caused the injuries.
The affidavit states that the father also told police the alleged abuse was not new. He claimed he had attempted to report years of abuse involving Pecht and their oldest child to law enforcement agencies in Dunlap and Marion County, but said neither department took action.
According to the Chattanoogan, the father said the oldest child now lives with him because he “does not want to be around his mother.”
Police say the children described what happened on December 12 while sitting in the back seat of Pecht’s car in the Ruby Falls parking lot.
According to WRCB and WTVC, the children told officers that Pecht’s phone fell into the back seat and that she became angry, screaming at them to retrieve it. As they tried to hand the phone back, the children said Pecht pinched and scratched them. One child told police they got out of the car to get away from her, while another said Pecht bit him on the hand as he tried to push her away to stop her from hurting them.
Both WRCB and the Chattanoogan report that the children told officers incidents like this had been happening about once a week for years. The affidavit cited by WTVC says the oldest child made similar claims.
Officers documented scabbing, scratches, red marks and what appeared to be fingernail imprints on the children’s hands and arms, injuries police said were consistent with the children’s statements, according to all three outlets. The children later repeated their claims during forensic interviews at the Child Advocacy Center, WTVC reports. The father was granted emergency custody of the two younger children.
Public arrest records show Pecht was arrested on Friday, December 26, according to WRCB and WTVC. WRCB reports she is charged with two counts of child neglect, while WTVC and the Chattanoogan report she faces two counts of child abuse. She is scheduled to appear in court on January 27, 2026, according to WRCB.
Police noted in the affidavit that Pecht teaches first grade at Lookout Mountain Elementary School. Both WRCB and WTVC report that Hamilton County Schools has been contacted regarding her employment status, and a response is still pending.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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