Lawsuit claims girl was strangled, waterboarded by fellow student

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A prestigious performing arts program that’s known to send kids to Broadway is under investigation.

One family says school leaders failed to report a violent attack to police. A judge is now looking into the classroom assault.

The victim’s family told Channel 2′s Chris Jose that they’re the ones who reported the assault to police.

“It shouldn’t have just been covered up. An investigation should’ve been done. Somebody somewhere should’ve spoken to her,” said Candace Atkins, the victim’s mother.

Atkins said school leaders at Pebblebrook High School failed to protect her daughter after a violent classroom attack in March 2018.

TRENDING STORIES:

• Next coronavirus stimulus plan: $1,200 check, money for schools, pared-down unemployment payments
• Toddler found wandering alone in Florida neighborhood; police still trying to find his parents
• Shots fired at Go Kart and gaming center, causing mass panic

“(He) grabbed her by the throat, forced her against the wall. Strangled and waterboarded (her),” Atkins said.

At the family’s request, we’re only using the girl’s initials: E.C. She was a sophomore at the Cobb County Center for Excellence in the Performing Arts.

The Atkins family said the students were spread out to practice monologues when a teacher briefly went into the hallway to watch other class members.

Atkins recalled the day she picked up E.C. at the bus stop.

“It was the most terrifying noise your child could ever make. And I said to her, ‘I’m going to drive you to the hospital right now. You have to tell me what happened,’” Atkins said.

E.C. spent a week in the hospital.

The victim is 18 now. Atkins said E.C. suffered physical and emotional injuries.

According to a civil complaint filed in March 2020, Pebblebrook’s former principal and vice principal suspended the classmate for five days.

Atkins said the administrators failed to investigate properly and allowed the boy to stay in the classroom with her daughter, which caused PTSD and severe anxiety.

A school district spokesperson sent Jose a statement, saying, in part: “The district will cooperate with any appropriate police investigations as requested by local law enforcement.”

Atkins said her daughter is still suffering from vocal injuries and she’ll never be able to perform in a musical again.

Cox Media Group