EXCLUSIVE: Second investigation into teacher jailed for child abuse closed

OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. (WEAR) — The State Attorney’s Office and Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office have closed a second investigation into Marlynn Stillions, the former special education teacher sentenced to seven years behind bars for abusing a student with autism.

Stillions’ arrest was for the abuse of Noah Perillo, one of her former students at Kenwood Elementary, for abuse during the 2015-2016 school year. The second investigation was looking into the potential abuse of another student, also non-verbal with autism, named Camden Roberts.

Speaking exclusively with Channel 3 News, Camden’s mother, Tiffany Marshall, is speaking out for the first time about the case.

"I don't trust the school system like I used to,” Marshall explained.

Marshall said soon after learning about the investigation she pulled her son out of school, today he’s being homeschooled.

According to incident reports from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, other staff members stated they saw Stillions punish Camden while in the cafeteria. He allegedly stuck his tongue out and Stillions placed a finger across his face and he began to “squirm” in discomfort. The report goes on to say Stillions forced Camden to look away from his friends sitting nearby in an apparent time out.

"I feel like I failed my child,” Marshall said.

She said she just recently learned the case has now been closed without any charges.

"I felt like somebody just stabbed me in the heart, I felt like the justice system failed my son, failed us. I feel like they didn't care. She should be punished for every child that she hurt,” Marshall said.

We asked the State Attorney’s Office why the case was closed.

“The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office investigated that matter, spoke to numerous witnesses concerning any allegations of abuse that occurred to the child [Camden], they made the determination it did not rise to the level of a criminal abuse count,” Assistant State Attorney Bill Bishop explained.

Tiffany Marshall said she’s not convinced no abuse took place. She could not tell us what her next step will be, but said she will not stop pressing for more charges against Stillions. The State Attorney’s Office said the case would not be reopen unless new evidence came forward.