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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Child Held After Teacher Dies

Associated Press

A 9-year-old boy who attacked a substitute teacher was in custody Tuesday after the teacher’s death was ruled a homicide.

The boy, who was not identified, was detained by the juvenile court but a decision on whether he would be charged had not yet been made, a spokeswoman said.

Nedra Morris, 51, died Oct. 10 after the fourth-grader at Marshall Elementary School struck her in the chest after refusing to do an assignment she’d assigned, police said. She collapsed shortly afterward.

The medical examiner, Dr. Michael Graham, found Morris had significant heart disease due to high blood pressure. But, he said, her condition was aggravated by the physical exertion and emotional stress of the altercation as well as by the blows to her chest.

Graham ruled her death a homicide Tuesday.

Homicide detectives have recommended that the boy be charged with involuntary manslaughter under the juvenile code.