NC 3rd grade teacher had meth lab in home with son, deputies say

A Wake County school teacher and her husband were arrested Friday after a methamphetamine lab was found in their Zebulon home  — where their young son was also present, the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office said.

Lori Riley Whitley, 38, and Gary Nelson Whitley, 41, of the 100 block of Big Branch Court, were charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, maintaining a dwelling for distribution of a controlled substance and child abuse.

Deputies say the couple’s 8-year-old son was in the home.

Lori Whitley works as third-grade a teacher at Wendell Elementary School, Wake County Schools said. She was suspended with pay starting Friday.

Wake County schools officials say Whitley has been a third-grade teacher at Wendell Elementary School since 2002.