A teenage boy died in a car crash while being driven by a much older female security guard from his school who'd groomed him for sex as a child, it is claimed.
Jacob Pothier, 18, died in the January, 2024 smash as he was traveling in Kathleen Martins' vehicle in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The 45-year-old former employee at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School survived but suffered brain damage.
His family has demanded justice for him, claiming he was in an 'inappropriate sexual relationship' with Martins that started while she worked at his high school, as reported by The New Bedford Light.
Pothier's family told the local news outlet that the relationship began while the boy was a 15-year-old student and she was employed at his school, with the pair continuing to see each other until his death.
They say school officials were aware of the inappropriate relationship but failed to take action before his tragic death.
Martins, who worked at the school until March, 2023, told The New Bedford Light that she had nothing to say about Pothier.
She was reportedly placed in a temporary legal conservatorship last year due to head injuries she suffered in the crash. That conservatorship ended last September.
Last year, Pothier's estate filed a petition asking that school officials and Martins testify and answer to the claims about their involvement in the teen's death.
The Pothier's family attorney Scott Lang sent a letter to the school last June accusing administrators of failing to protect Pothier.
The letter claims the school was involved in Pothier's wrongful death and seeks damages for personal and psychological injuries.
Massachusetts law dictates such a letter must be sent before filing a civil lawsuit against a public employer.
The letter named Martins as well as superintendent Michael Watson, and school Human Resources Director Nancy Markey.
'The anticipated nature of the action against Voc-Tech, Watson, and Markey is for wrongful death, negligence, and negligent infliction of emotional distress due to their failure to investigate and [their] handling of an inappropriate sexual relationship,' the petition reads.
'Petitioner also expects, in the same action, to file claims against Martins.'
The Pothiers have also slammed local police for failing to properly investigate the circumstances of the crash.
They claim the teen's cellphone was never returned to them after the deadly crash. They say the phone pinged at the site where the crashed vehicle was towed to.
A Massachusetts Superior Court ruled late last year that Martins can be deposed by Pothier's estate, as reported by the Fall River Reporter.
Lawyers for Martins and the school have filed motions to dismiss the complaint to have Martins deposed. Both motions were denied.
Martins has never been charged over the alleged relationship nor the car accident that killed Pothier.
DailyMail.com has reached out to the Pothiers for comment on this story.
The Bristol County District Attorney’s office has yet to issue any statement on the case.
'My family and I were cautiously optimistic with the judge’s ruling giving permission for Martins to be deposed. She has been working since June. She is living her life while Jacob missed out on summer family vacation, missed his senior year of high school and football. She is free to live with no consequences for her actions before or after the crash,' Pothier's aunt Jennifer Letendre told the Fall River Reporter.
'Our family hopes this ruling by the presiding justice will also nudge the Bristol County DA’s Office and the MA State Police to investigate and communicate with Jacob’s family. Not a day goes by where Jacob is not missed by his parents, siblings and extended family. Jacob was a presence in our life and the lives of those who knew him. I will work to get justice and answers related to Jacob’s case until I cannot fight anymore.'
The DA's office is the same involved in a sex scandal after a judge was accused of an affair with a much younger prosecutor whose cases he oversaw, as uncovered by DailyMail.com.
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