Maris Nichols is 25 years old and taught biology at Alexander High School in Douglas County, Georgia. Today, her name appears in a formal indictment charging her with 27 counts.
Police arrested her twice. According to the arrest warrants, on April 23 she had sex with a student in a classroom closet, and on May 2, with another student inside a car. The new warrants add a third encounter on May 3 and the sending of inappropriate photos and videos to other victims. In all, the investigation involves six students, two of them under 16.
Investigators say inappropriate messages were sent from her phone to several students, including a video of her with a student wearing a sweater with the phrase “Jesus loves you”. The recordings began circulating among classmates.
That’s where the story takes a turn. According to the search warrant applications, at least one student used the existence of an alleged OnlyFans account belonging to the teacher to blackmail her: either she improved their grade, or they would leak the videos. Detectives included that allegation in several warrant applications. So far, it’s unclear whether the students will face charges over the threat.
Everything above is alleged, and there has been no conviction. Who had more to lose in this story?