In an attempted crime a Texas sheriff condemned as “dastardly” and “trafficking at its worst,” a female 8th grade teacher allegedly attempted to broker a deal with men in Morocco to have sex with her underage female relative.
In her attempt to get a high price for sex with the young girl, the teacher sent the men photos of her underage relative dressed in lingerie, showing her bare breasts, and touted her virginity. The teacher even traveled to Morocco in December to try to finalize the horrific deal.
Authorities say they had been tracking the suspect, Amber Michelle Parker, a 37-year-old 8th grade reading teacher, for weeks as she attempted to broker a deal with men in Morocco to have sex with her young relative. They arrested Parker on Wednesday. The same day, the school that employed her, Mexia Junior High School, announced her suspension.
Parker was arrested after a joint investigation by the Freestone County Sheriff’s Office and the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office, the Waco Tribune reports. The investigation was prompted by family members, who contacted authorities over their suspicions that Parker had ill intentions for her young relative, Freestone County Sheriff Jeremy Shipley said in a statement Wednesday. To help with the investigation, the sheriff’s office contacted McLennan County investigators, “who specialize in human trafficking investigations,” the Tribune notes.
“After a joint investigation between Freestone County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Investigator Preston Cordova and McLennan County Sheriff’s Office Detective Joseph Scaramucci, a female suspect was placed under arrest for the offense of Trafficking of Persons after conspiring to traffic a minor child to multiple male subjects online in Morocco,” Shipley said in the statement.
“Family members got wind that Parker was going to try to lure this girl to Morocco,” said McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara Wednesday. “It is a dastardly story, and it is trafficking at its worst.”
McNamara said that Parker posted photos on social media of the girl dressed in lingerie and displaying her bare breasts in order to lure potential bidders. With the help of Scaramucci, authorities obtained search warrants for the teacher’s electronic devices and other key evidence.
Parker traveled to Morocco without the girl in mid-December, returning January 1.
Authorities have not disclosed details about Parker’s relationship to the girl in an attempt to protect her identity.
On Wednesday, the Mexia school district announced that Parker had been placed on administrative leave. “Student safety is Mexia ISD’s No. 1 priority,” said Superintendent Lyle DuBus in a statement. “We take these allegations seriously and we will be working closely with our partners in law enforcement. The district continues to monitor the situation and feels no students at Mexia Junior High were ever at risk.”
The Star-Telegram reports that Parker remained in custody at Freestone County Jail Thursday and her bond was set at $25,000.