School Worker Killed After being Kicked in Chest by 14-Year-Old Student

A Massachusetts school employee is dead after what began as a routine confrontation turned into a horrifying act of violence — a 14-year-old girl allegedly kicked her in the chest so hard she collapsed and never woke up.

Authorities say 53-year-old Amy Morrell, a beloved staff member at Meadowridge Academy in Swansea, was trying to stop the teenager from leaving the building without permission on Wednesday evening when the situation spiraled out of control.

According to prosecutors, Morrell and another staffer attempted to restrain the student inside the dorm area when the girl lashed out and delivered a powerful kick that sent Morrell crashing to the floor. Witnesses said she gasped for air before losing consciousness.

Emergency responders rushed her to a nearby hospital, but the mother and grandmother never recovered. She was pronounced dead the following afternoon.

“She went to work to help kids — and she never came home,” one staff member told a local reporter, fighting back tears.

The unnamed 14-year-old was charged in Fall River Juvenile Court with assault and battery causing serious bodily injury. Prosecutors have not ruled out the possibility of upgrading charges to manslaughter or even murder once the medical examiner confirms the cause of death.

The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office said the investigation remains “very active and ongoing.”

Meadowridge Academy — a residential care school for troubled youth and young adults battling trauma and behavioral issues — called Morrell’s death a “devastating loss.”

“The Meadowridge Academy community is deeply saddened,” a spokesperson said. “Amy dedicated her life to helping students heal and find their way. We are heartbroken.”

The academy, located about 50 miles south of Boston, operates under the Justice Resource Institute, which oversees several schools for children with emotional and behavioral disorders.

Friends say Morrell, a Rhode Island native, poured her heart into her work and cared deeply for her students.

Andrew Ferruche, who described Morrell as “like family,” told WCVB that the tragedy felt surreal.

“It never crossed my mind. Never thought of it. I couldn’t believe it when I got the call today,” Ferruche said. “You get in a fight, you don’t think you’re going to hit somebody and they’re going to die right there — especially if you’re a kid. That child’s life is probably ruined. Her life is gone. It’s just a tragic situation.”

Her close friend Tina Lombardi wrote an emotional tribute on Facebook, calling Morrell “a great mother, grandmother, and above all, a great friend.”

“I love you and can’t believe your life has been cut short,” Lombardi wrote. “You will always be a big part of my life.”

Experts warn that the shocking death highlights a disturbing rise in violence inside schools, especially those that serve students with severe behavioral and mental health challenges.

A recent National Education Association survey found that nearly one in three school employees has been physically assaulted by a student at least once — and many incidents go unreported.

In the wake of Morrell’s death, education advocates are calling for urgent safety reforms and stronger staffing protections at facilities like Meadowridge.

“She died trying to protect a child,” said one former Meadowridge counselor. “Now we have to ask — who’s protecting the people protecting them?”