Missing teacher, student found in W.V. hotel

HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) - More details are emerging about the Holyoke teacher who allegedly ran off with her 15 year-old student.  

At a news conference on Tuesday morning, Holyoke Police Chief Anthony Scott said they tracked down 24 year-old Lisa Lavoie and the boy at a hotel room in Morgantown, W. Va. by following a trail of financial information. Holyoke police contacted Morgantown police and state police who arrested Lavoie around 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday.

Holyoke Mayor Michael Sullivan said arrangements are being made to return the boy to Holyoke, where he will be turned over to the Department of Children and Families while the investigation continues.

Chief Scott said while they were aware the duo were reported missing, they could not obtain an arrest warrant until both the teacher and student did not show up to school on Monday morning.

The boy's mother contacted the Maurice Donahue Elementary School on Feb. 13, saying she was concerned her teenage son was having an affair with Lavoie. Police went to question the teacher later that afternoon, but she had already left for the day and class ended for a one-week winter break

The male student was later reported missing on Feb. 16.

Mayor Sullivan said Lavoie was an 8th grade teacher and had been teaching at the school in Holyoke for only five months.

She now faces charges of kidnapping and being a fugitive from justice in West Virginia. In Massachusetts, she'll answer face a charge of child enticement, which includes statutory rape.

Lavoie will be placed on administrative leave immediately. If she is found guilty, she will have her teaching license revoked in the state of Massachusetts.

If you would like to watch the raw video of Tuesday morning's news conference, click on the media player to the left.