A former elementary school teacher in Nevada, Taji Hillson, 62, has confessed to drugging and sexually assaulting multiple children, including a toddler who lived nearby, as per local law enforcement. Hillson was taken into custody in Reno on July 2, following her written apology to a family member who had accused her of sexual abuse spanning from her childhood into adulthood. This information was revealed in a police report that was made available to the public.
The adult victim, who had been subjected to Hillson’s abuse, lodged a police complaint in April. The complaint included text messages in which Hillson confessed to drugging the victim and touching her inappropriately. The police report detailed Hillson’s admission of administering Benadryl to the victim to sedate her, which she would sneak into her food, and then proceed to touch her while she was asleep.
During a police interview on June 25, Hillson reportedly confessed to the long-term abuse of the woman, which continued even after the victim returned home from college in 2014. Hillson attributed her actions to her feelings of invisibility and her longing for closeness with another person, as per the court documents.
Hillson also confessed to the inappropriate touching of at least twelve other children, including a 2-year-old neighbor at a local pool in recent years, according to the police. However, she has only been charged in two of these cases, with the police emphasizing that none of the victims were her students.
Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks expressed his deep disturbance at the allegations, commending the bravery of the adult victim who reported the abuse. He stated that her courage has enabled the pursuit of justice and the protection of others from harm.
Hillson was employed at Roy Gomm Elementary School from 2022 through June 2025, as reported by the Reno Gazette. The police have stated that there is no evidence to suggest that Hillson harmed any students during her tenure at the school.
Hillson has been charged with one count of sexual assault of a child under 14, one count of sexual assault, and three counts of lewdness with a child under 14, according to records from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. Her bail has been set at $5 million.