Firm notifies South St. Paul District of intent to sue on behalf of sex abuse victim

The South St. Paul School District is named in a notice of claim by a law firm representing a victim alleging sexual abuse by a former teacher at Lincoln Center Elementary School.

Jeff Anderson & Associates sent the claim on behalf of a student at the school alleging abuse by Aric Babbitt, who died in a murder-suicide with his partner in August. Babbitt and his husband, Matthew Deyo, were found dead one week after they fled the state during a police investigation.

A teenage student filed a police report detailing his sexual relationship with the couple in August.

Babbitt and Deyo fled to Washington state, where they were found dead on Lopez Island Beach.

A suicide note was found in their car.

"The police investigation and our investigation reveal that by using his stature as a teacher, Babbitt did egregious harm to many children over a significant period of time," lawyer Jeff Anderson said in a statement. "In our view, there are signs that some responsibility rests with the district."

Ten people have come forward to give interviews to police claiming sexual abuse by the couple. Eight were juveniles.

Babbitt was hired by the school district in 2002. Deyo formerly worked at South St. Paul High School in information technology.