Police seek help in teacher's slaying

RICHMOND, Ind. (WDTN) - On Tuesday, Richmond Police were still searching for answers into the killing of a pregnant school teacher.

Thirty-two-year-old Tonawanda Thompson was shot and killed outside her South 20th Street home Monday morning.

Thompson was headed to work at Fayette Central Elementary in Connersville, when someone walked up to her car and shot her several times. Both Thompson and her unborn baby were killed.
    
News of the tragedy quickly traveled to the rural Indiana school.

"She was kind of like our mom.  She was like our mom for six hours and for the rest of the day our real moms took over," said of Thompson's 6th grade students.

Officials said Thompson was also mother to a 13 year-old daughter, who lived with her at the South 20th Street home.
 
On Tuesday, Richmond school officials reported the teen was back in school and received lots of support from her friends at Test Middle School.

"I think that she is surrounded by her friends, her teachers, her normal routine of doing things," said School Counselor Shawna Mikesell.  "That was her choice, it's where she's at in this whole process and it's important for her to be here".

Meanwhile, Richmond Police continued to work the investigation and look for answers, like who pulled the trigger and why.

"We can say that robbery was not a motive in this case," said Lt. Jon Bales.

Bales said investigators were searching for a car that could be involved in the crime. Neighbors reported seeing a man sleeping in the passenger seat of a gold or tan colored car with Illinois plates just prior to the shooting.

"We don't have enough information on the vehicle at this time to say that it is involved, or it's not involved," added Bales. "Right now, we've got officers out scouring the streets for it".
    
Investigators said they are following up on every lead and will continue to, until have all the answers they need to get justice for Tonawanda Thompson and her family.

Bales said they are making progress with the investigation but asked anyone with tips or information call the department at 765-983-7247.