FROM POLICE AND COURT PAPERS: “She did . . . make an agreement whereby (she and the boy) would both commit suicide.”
Former charter school teacher accused of imprisoning eighth-grade pupil, making suicide pact
Teacher supplied him with alcohol and over-the-counter drugs, police say
The former South Buffalo Charter School teacher who disappeared with a male eighth-grade pupil last month made a suicide pact with him and provided him with alcohol and over-the-counter drugs, Buffalo police say in their arrest papers.
Cara L. Dickey, 30, accompanied by her attorney, surrendered to Buffalo police Thursday morning on four charges, including two felonies.
The arrest papers accuse Dickey of sending the 14-year-old boy inappropriate text messages, picking him up from a South Buffalo address on the afternoon of June 16, driving him to numerous locations, unlawfully imprisoning him for almost 24 hours and supplying him with Bacardi rum, Tylenol and Nyquil.
Dickey was charged with promoting a suicide attempt and unlawful imprisonment, both felonies, along with two misdemeanors, endangering the welfare of a child and unlawfully dealing with a child.
According to the arrest papers, “she did provide him with alcoholic beverages and Tylenol and Nyquil and did make an agreement whereby [she and the boy] would both commit suicide.”
But neither Dickey nor her student was treated for any serious medical problems after they were located the next day, authorities have said.
During her arraignment Thursday afternoon before acting City Court Judge John J. Flynn, Dickey’s attorney, Daniel J. Chiacchia, was asked about the possibility of a forensic exam for his client.
“My client has already sought some treatment for psychological issues before her arrest,” Chiacchia told Flynn.
The judge set bail at $5,000 cash, after Chiacchia told him that Dickey had not fled during the three-week period since her apprehension June 17. She is married, with three young children, and continues to live in Clarence with her family.
“They have a stable situation out there,” Chiacchia told the court.
Dickey later was released on $5,000 bail.
Flynn also agreed to Assistant District Attorney Colleen Curtin Gable’s request for a strict order of protection banning any contact between Dickey and the 14-year-old boy — either by phone, text message, computer, third person or any other means of communication.
Chiacchia told the court the order would not pose a problem.
During her court appearance, Dickey — whose hair is now dark — looked back several times at her husband in the courtroom. Both her husband and Chiacchia declined to comment.
“I think the charges speak for themselves, as to what happened during the hours when this child was missing,” said John J. DeFranks, first deputy district attorney.
Buffalo Sex Offense Squad Detectives Deborah Buyers and Karyn Carney, their commander, Lt. David F. Mann, and State Police have been investigating the case since June 16.
Both Dickey and the student went missing that afternoon, leading the boy’s family to go public with his name and photo, urging him to return home or contact them.
State Police and Buffalo police found both of them late the next morning, the boy in a Hamburg mall and Dickey sleeping in her vehicle in Springville.
Dickey then was questioned for several hours before she was released. The next day, the school fired the five-year veteran teacher, who was described as popular with students and colleagues alike.
As investigators continued to make their case against Dickey, Erie County District Attorney Frank J. Clark cited the difficulty in investigating and prosecuting such cases, when a teacher is accused of inappropriate behavior with a student.
“In many cases like this, in fact, in most cases, nobody witnessed the conduct other than the people involved,” Clark said. “You are relying on the testimony of one or both of the participants.”
Dickey’s felony hearing is set for July 28 in City Court.
News staff reporter Brian Hayden contributed to this story.
gwarner@buffnews.com, vthomas@buffnews.com
