Trial date set for 3 former West Virginia educators who allegedly told nonverbal students “I’ll punch you in the face”

BERKELY COUNTY, W.Va. A trial date has been set for three former West Virginia educators who are accused of verbally assaulting two nonverbal students with autism.

According to the news station WJLA , the three will face the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office on Oct. 14, 2025.

Former Berkeley Heights Elementary teacher Christina Lester, and former aides June Yurish and Kristin Douty were caught on video telling students, “I ought to backhand you right in your teeth. How is that for anxiety?” and “I’ll punch you in the face.”

The 2018 recording was taped by Amber Pack, the mother of one of the students.

WJLA broke the exclusive investigation that went viral with over 6.3 million views on YouTube and counting.

Also named as defendants in the lawsuit are the former school’s principal, Amber Boeckman, Margaret Kursey, a former deputy superintendent, and the board of education.

When WJLA reached out to every defendant, only Berkeley County Schools responded, stating, “We are very much looking forward to presenting our case to the court. Berkeley County Schools is committed to maintaining a safe and secure educational environment in which students can learn and will continue to do all it can to ensure that the health, safety and welfare of students is not jeopardized. We have cooperated with the Attorney General’s office since this matter began and will continue to do so,” Karla Troppman, Executive Director of Communications, Berkeley County Schools.

According to the news outlet, West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey filed a lawsuit claiming the women are guilty of verbally assaulting two nonverbal students with autism, which would be a violation of the state’s Human Rights Act.

Kasey Murphy, the mother of one of the victims, told the news outlet that she wanted a jury to decide justice for her son. However, misdemeanor criminal charges were dropped in 2023 after WJLA said a judge agreed with Berkeley County Prosecutor Catie Wilkes Delligatti that going forward with a trial would be too costly to the county.

Despite not seeing a jury trial for the accused, WJLA says Murphy helped change laws in West Virginia that now require cameras inside special education classrooms.

WJLA reports they reached out to the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office, which declined to comment due to pending litigation.

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