The disgraced cop who kidnapped his son after he allegedly shot dead his ex-wife and his teenage girlfriend spent two years as a substitute teacher and wrestling coach in the school district.
Elias Huizar, 39, was found in his car dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head around 3pm local time Tuesday afternoon, according to the West Richland Police Department.
Huizar killed his ex-wife Amber Rodriguez at William Wiley Elementary school on Monday afternoon during dismissal, according to Washington State Police.
Police searching for Huizar found a second victim, his girlfriend Angelica ‘Jelly’ Santos, dead in his home, which is on the same block as the West Richland school. First-degree murder charges were filed against him late Monday night, as well as an aggravated circumstance allegation of domestic violence and firearm enhancement.
In a Facebook post released Tuesday, the Richland School District revealed that Huizar had spent at least two years as a substitute teacher and volunteer wrestling coach in the district where his wife worked.
Elias Huizar, the disgraced cop who kidnapped his son after he shot dead his ex-wife and his teenage girlfriend spent two years as a substitute teacher and wrestling coach in the school district
Rodriguez was listed as a paraeducator at William Wiley Elementary where the couple’s nine-year-old son said Huizar shot his mother several times.
The school system claims that they had no knowledge of any past misdeeds by Huizar and that he was removed from their substitute portal once he was accused of raping his underaged girlfriend and her 16-year-old friend.
The Yakima Police Department said in a Facebook post Tuesday that Huizar left the department in 2021 ‘after receiving discipline.’ It did not provide any other information.
‘The tragedies we are learning about in West Richland are heartbreaking. Words cannot express the deep sympathy we feel for all affected by these terrible acts of violence,’ Chief Matthew Murray said.
‘We remain ready to assist in any way we are able.’
The Richland School District said it terminated Huizar’s employment following his arrest in February.
It said it had received recommendations from the Yakima School District before hiring him in 2022, and that he had passed background checks.
He begun the application process in November 2021, months after leaving the police department.
In a Facebook post released Tuesday, the Richland School District revealed that Huizar had spent at least two years as a substitute teacher and volunteer wrestling coach in the district where his wife worked
Amber Rodriguez was listed as a paraeducator at William Wiley Elementary where the couple’s nine-year-old son said Huizar shot his mother several times
The school district said they received a reference for Huizar from the principal and the vice principal of Franklin Middle School in Yakima in January and February, where he worked as a school resource officer.
The principal told the school district he was a ‘very good’ candidate, while the vice principal said he was ‘excellent’. It’s unclear if the school reached out to the Yakima Police Department.
Huizar went through an ’emergency substitute certificate’ application in February of 2022, where he was asked if he’d ever resigned or left a job over allegations or pending allegations of misconduct.
He was also asked if he’d been subject of an investigation or inquiry by an employer. He answered ‘no’ to both questions.
The former cop also went through an eight-hour training course, took a drug test and had his fingerprints taken to run a background check with state police and FBI, with all checks coming back clear.
Shortly after, they received out a ‘Sexual Misconduct Disclosure Release’ from the Yakima School District, which checked a box that said he had no sexual misconduct materials or allegations.
He was given a notice for reasonable assurance of employment on February 9, 2022, two days after his substitute certificate was approved.
Huizar began substitute teaching for the district just nine days later, on February 18.
Her family has identified the second victim as 17-year-old Angelica ‘Jelly’ Santos, the mother of the one-year-old child abducted, Roman Huizar
The Yakima Police Department said in a Facebook post Tuesday that Huizar left the department in 2021 ‘after receiving discipline.’ It did not provide any other information
He was brought back for the full following school year and was re-certified on March 26, 2023.
The last time he substituted for the school district was June 14, 2023.
On February 14, 2024, after learning of Huizar’s arrest for rape of an underage girl, he was taken out of the school’s substitute and volunteer portals and banned from all district buildings.
He also spent time as a volunteer wrestling coach, according to the Tri-City Herald.
‘We are extremely disheartened that information about Mr. Huizar’s past was not disclosed to us through the various processes we have in place to vet RSD candidates for employment,’ the school district said in a statement.
‘It is the expectation for individuals who apply for employment with RSD to be forthcoming and truthful in their applications.
‘No past investigations or allegations appeared in Mr. Huizar’s background checks before he was hired and nothing was disclosed by Mr. Huizar. We take the process of hiring staff very seriously and pride ourselves on the quality and character of our staff members.’
DailyMail.com has reached out to the Yakima Police Department for comment.
In addition to working at the school, Rodriguez also worked as a real estate agent
Huizar is on the run after the Monday afternoon shooting just outside of William Wiley Elementary School, where his ex-wife was shot and killed
Authorities confirmed that a dead body had been found at Huizar’s home as they were conducting a search. Police said he also killed his girlfriend
Huizar, 39, killed his ex-wife Amber Rodriguez at William Wiley Elementary school on Monday afternoon during dismissal, according to Washington State Police. The couple’s nine-year-old son told police that he watched his father shoot his mother several times.
Police searching for Huizar found a second victim, his girlfriend Angelica ‘Jelly’ Santos, dead in his home, which is on the same block as the West Richland school.
First-degree murder charges were filed against him late Monday night, as well as an aggravated circumstance allegation of domestic violence and firearm enhancement.
His one-year-old son with the teenager, Roman, was found safe.
A spokesperson for Washington State Police confirmed to DailyMail.com that the Amber Alert has been canceled. Police were seen carrying the baby away from Huizar’s alleged vehicle.