Nicholas Bott, a 44-year-old substitute teacher from the Clark County School District in Nevada, ended his life two days after he was arrested on charges related to child abuse. He was employed at Ernest A. Becker Sr. Middle School in Las Vegas. Bott was taken into custody on May 16, 2024, on charges that included child abuse and inappropriate contact with a minor.
Police reports reveal that Bott was suspected of sending improper notes to a 14-year-old student. The arrest report showed that Bott developed an infatuation with the student which he expressed in multiple notes, one of which claimed she was the most beautiful person he had ever seen. He also shared his contact information with her and insisted she keep their communication confidential. School officials responded by removing Bott from the school premises and notifying the police, who began an investigation on May 14.
Bott was arrested on May 16 and held at the Clark County Detention Center. He managed to post bail the next day. However, on May 18, Bott died by suicide, suffering a gunshot wound to the head, as confirmed by the Clark County Office of the Coroner.
The incident has caused considerable unease within the local community. A spokesperson for the Clark County School District expressed deep concerns regarding the situation. The district took immediate action by removing Bott from its list of substitute teachers, thereby barring him from working in the district.
Court documents show that Bott’s initial court hearing was set for June 20. The investigation revealed that Bott confessed to developing an infatuation with the student and admitted to overstepping professional boundaries. In a letter sent to the school’s principal, Bott admitted to his feelings but asserted that he had not done anything ethically wrong.
In the aftermath of Bott’s arrest, the district has been discussing ways to enhance student protection and improve the vetting process for substitute teachers. The district has stressed the importance of prompt reporting and detailed investigations in such cases.
