OOLITIC – A Bedford woman, Julie C. Kirkpatrick, 40, is facing a charge of neglect of a dependent for failing to provide education as required by law, following an investigation into her 12-year-old son’s extensive absences from Dollens Elementary School.
The Lawrence County Police Department filed a Probable Cause Affidavit on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, detailing the findings of School Resource Officer Corey D. Housel’s investigation.
According to the affidavit, Officer Housel, who serves as the resource officer for elementary schools outside Bedford city limits, received an email on April 7, 2025, from the director of juvenile probation for Lawrence County. Messmann, who is part of a Community Chronic Absenteeism/Truancy Panel for North Lawrence Community Schools (NLCS), informed Officer Housel about Kirkpatrick’s son’s attendance record.
The truancy panel, comprised of representatives from various agencies including United Way, Ireland Home Based Services, NLCS, Mitchell Community Schools, IU Health-Bloomington, the Department of Child Services (DCS), and Centerstone, apparently convened and determined that the parent/legal guardian was responsible for the boy’s excessive unexcused absences, which were impacting his academic performance…