A disturbing viral video has led to the arrest of Randi Nicole Staples, a Cottage Hill Christian Academy teacher, after it showed her repeatedly hitting her 12-year-old son. The clip, originally uploaded to Staples’ own Facebook page before being deleted, reportedly captured her striking the child 22 times in just 14 seconds with what appeared to be a belt or strap. The footage also showed her lifting the boy by his hair while shouting obscenities.
Teacher Randi Nicole Staples arrested after a viral video showed her hitting her 12-year-old son 22 times. Sheriff calls the footage “repulsive.”#RandiNicoleStaples #AlabamaNews #ViralVideo #BreakingNews #TeacherArrested #ChildSafety #NewsUpdate pic.twitter.com/hrhzMJi0xh
— LoudFact (@loudfactcom) November 20, 2025
Sibling Recorded and Shared the Incident
According to reports, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Staples is the child’s mother. A sibling filmed the incident and forwarded the video to an older sibling, who later posted it on social media, drawing widespread attention.
Sheriff Paul Burch described the footage as “repulsive,” stating, “People are entitled to discipline their children how they choose, but that went well beyond discipline. It was abuse… sickening to see somebody repeatedly strike their child, then grab them by the hair and yell and curse at them.”
Felony Abuse Charge Filed Against Staples
Staples was arrested and booked into Mobile Metro Jail on a felony charge of “willful abuse of a minor.” Sheriff Burch added that there was “never any question” she would face arrest once authorities reviewed the video. All children involved have since been placed in the care of a family member.
Cottage Hill Christian Academy Terminates Her Employment
Following the arrest, Cottage Hill Christian Academy terminated Staples’ employment. The school said her conduct was unrelated to her responsibilities as a teacher but violated institutional policies.
In a statement, the academy said, “An arrest was made, and Cottage Hill Christian Academy terminated her employment in accordance with institutional policy.”
The school also noted it is cooperating fully with the Department of Human Resources, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, and the District Attorney’s Office as the investigation continues.
Who Is Randi Nicole Staples?
Randi Nicole Staples, 44, was a 2nd-grade teacher at Cottage Hill Christian Academy. She had recently been honored as the school’s Teacher of the Year in May. Sheriff Burch said she was widely regarded as “a good teacher and well respected,” making the actions seen in the video appear like “a dual personality.”
Staples is the mother of all the children involved, including the 12-year-old who appeared in the viral footage.
