Mom Sues School District After Son with Autism Escapes Classroom

Fayette County mother says her 7-year-old son wandered onto busy road after slipping out unnoticed

Mar. 13, 2026 at 11:03pm

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A Fayette County, Kentucky mother is suing the Fayette County Public Schools district after her young son, who is on the autism spectrum and mostly nonverbal, slipped out of his classroom unnoticed at Meadowthorpe Elementary and ended up on one of Lexington's busiest roads. The incident, which the mother described as "the worst day of my life", occurred when the child got out through a classroom window that did not have a lock installed despite a teacher's prior request. The lawsuit alleges negligence and seeks damages on behalf of the boy.

Why it matters

This case highlights the critical need for proper safety protocols and supervision for students with special needs, especially those prone to wandering or "eloping". Parents of children with autism entrust schools to meet their children's specific needs, and this incident raises questions about whether Fayette County Public Schools failed in their duty of care.

The details

According to the lawsuit, the 7-year-old boy, who is on the autism spectrum and mostly nonverbal, slipped out of his classroom at Meadowthorpe Elementary through an open window that did not have a lock installed, despite a teacher's prior request. The child ended up on New Circle Road, one of Lexington's busiest roads, where he was found "terrified," had vomited, and showed an elevated heart rate by Lexington Animal Care and Control officers. The lawsuit alleges the school never reported the boy missing during the roughly 40 minutes he was gone.

  • On November 17, the lawsuit alleges no lock had been installed on the classroom window and it was left open and unattended.

The players

Leslie Weston

A Fayette County mother who is suing the Fayette County Public Schools district after her young son, who is on the autism spectrum and mostly nonverbal, slipped out of his classroom unnoticed.

Fayette County Public Schools

The school district being sued by Leslie Weston after her son with autism escaped from his classroom.

Meadowthorpe Elementary

The school where the 7-year-old boy with autism escaped from his classroom through an open window.

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What they’re saying

“It was the worst day of my life,”

— Leslie Weston (wtvq.com)

“Parents who have kids with autism that are prone to eloping, when they send their kids to public school, especially in Fayette County, they expect that those necessary needs are taken care of. They knew about Leslie's son and the danger of potential elopement, and they didn't take the steps necessary to make sure he didn't elope, and that's why we're here today,”

— Masten Childers, Attorney (wtvq.com)

“He was on the side of the road almost crossing a concrete barrier, so we don't want to think about what could have happened and we're grateful it didn't, but it certainly was a possibility,”

— Kaci Christopher, Attorney (wtvq.com)

What’s next

The lawsuit names the Board of Education, the FCPS superintendent, teachers, paraeducators, and administrators at Meadowthorpe Elementary as defendants. The attorneys have requested a jury trial in Fayette Circuit Court.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the critical need for robust safety protocols and proper supervision for students with special needs, like autism, in order to prevent potentially tragic outcomes. The lawsuit seeks to hold the school district accountable and drive policy changes to better protect vulnerable students.