Former teacher Tana Reneau charged with child rape and incest in Whatcom County
A 51-year-old former elementary school teacher faces multiple charges of child rape, assault, and incest in Washington State. Four children aged 7 to 14 were identified as victims.
Former Blaine teacher faces child rape and incest charges after CPS investigation
Tana Reneau, a 51-year-old former elementary school teacher, was booked into Whatcom County Jail on Friday after the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) established probable cause for child rape, assault, and incest, katu.com reports.
The investigation was triggered on 19 May when Child Protective Services flagged alleged abuse of several minors by the Blaine woman. Deputies confirmed she was known to the children, though the exact nature of the relationship was not disclosed. Medical examinations conducted by a nurse at Brigid Collins found scarring and marks consistent with physical abuse, according to court documents.
Court documents show Reneau has been charged with three counts of first-degree incest, five counts of second-degree assault of a child, and rape of a child in the first, second, and third degrees. The four victims were aged 7, 11, 12, and 14 at the time the offences were reported.
The alleged crimes span from 1 January 2020 to 24 May 2023.
During her arrest, a vial of prescription pills was found on Reneau that did not belong to her. The substance was identified as a Schedule V controlled substance — a category the DEA describes as typically used for antidiarrheal, antitussive, and analgesic purposes. The WCSO stated that probable cause also exists to charge her with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.
Reneau taught elementary school for 12 years and worked as a school administrator in Kennewick for one summer, according to the Bellingham Herald. She has six children, four of whom are adopted, and has a documented history of involvement with the North Whatcom County Young Life ministry as a leader in a programme called YoungLives.
Public records indicate that a woman matching the name provided by the WCSO had filed to run for a seat on the Blaine School Board.
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)