A former Rowan-Salisbury elementary school counselor and her husband have been convicted and jailed on multiple child abuse charges levied against them in 2022.

The arrests were not initially reported by media as involving a school employee, therefore this is a new Quiet Epidemic entry. 

Name: Georgianna Chandler Karriker (and husband Reed Karriker)
Age: Both were 42 years old in 2022

GEORGIANNA AND REED KARRIKER

Charge(s): attempted first degree murder (Class B2), intentional child abuse causing serious injury (Class B2) and negligent child abuse resulting in serious injury (Class G)
Charge Type(s): (View Sentencing Chart)
Arrest Date: 1-27-22, 2-9-22
Bond Details: $40,000 secured (1-27-24) $300,000 raised to $600,000 secured(2-9-22)

Victim /Case Details: 

Rowan-Salisbury Police Department:
On Saturday, January 22, the Salisbury Police Department was made aware that a nonresponsive child was brought to Novant Hospital by his adoptive father on January 21, 2022 around noon. The child showed possible signs of neglect and was transported to Presbyterian Hospital for further treatment. The Salisbury Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID) was notified and initiated an investigation. After reviewing the medical information and facts obtained during the investigation, arrest warrants were obtained for Reed Karriker (adoptive father 42 yrs old) and Georgianna Karriker (adoptive mother 42 yrs old), charging each with one count of Felony Child Abuse. Mr. and Mrs. Karriker were arrested on Thursday. January 27, and placed in the Rowan County Detention Center after each received a $40,000.00 bond.

On Feb. 9, the felony child abuse and attempted murder charged were added after police raided the Karriker home. Over 975 videos were removed from the home’s security system.
Arrest warrants state the Karrikers “did intentionally inflict serious bodily injury, respiratory failure, acute kidney injury, septic shock, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and skin lesions throughout the body,” on the 11-year-old.

The warrant includes pictures of bruises and open wounds on the child’s body and the warrant states the boy “had an unknown mass in his stomach that required surgery to remove.” A total of five children were living in the Karriker home at the time.

Per the Salisbury Post, on July 29 “Both of the Karrikers were sentenced to a total of just under 20 years, with sentences for both class B felonies to run concurrently with a minimum of 157 months to a maximum of 201 months, followed consecutively by 13-25 months for the class G felony.”

Additional information here: Karrikers plead guilty to all counts, sentenced to nearly 20 years

District: Rowan-Salisbury Public School District
Current Role:  China Grove Elementary School Counselor
History: Hired in 2008
Employment status: Initially suspended with pay. Unclear if the district later terminated her.

Statement from District: No official statement

NC Teacher License Information: 

License Number: 1108124
Name: KARRIKER, GEORGIANNA CHANDLER
License Type: Educator
License Status: REVOKED
Expiration Date: 01/05/2024
Effective Date: 07/01/2021
License Area(s): School Counselor