EAST CHICAGO, Ind. (WISH) — A teacher at a northwestern Indiana charter school was found dead in a second-story stairwell of the building early Friday, police say.

The teacher was identified as Craig Jones, 47, of Gary.

East Chicago Police Department officers were called to the East Chicago Lighthouse Charter School around 6:40 a.m. Friday for a death investigation. Maintenance workers led police to the stairwell where Jones was found. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators say they learned that sometime on Thursday, Jones called a family member to say he was working late and would need a ride home. The family member arrived at the school around 10:30 p.m., but Jones never called the person or exited the building. Eventually, the family member left.

Jones was then discovered by a maintenance worker Friday morning.

Police say that while homicide detectives did investigate the scene, they do not believe foul play was involved.

East Chicago Lighthouse Charter School expressed its condolences for Jones and his family in a statement shared with News 8.

It is with profound sadness that we share and acknowledge the untimely passing of Mr. Craig
Jones, Special Education Teacher and basketball coach for our East Chicago Lighthouse
Charter School. We extend our deepest condolences to the family and the entire Northwest
Indiana school community as they grieve this loss. Mr. Jones was an amazing spirit and valued
team member that was committed to the work of helping scholars both in and out of the
classroom. His contagious tone of positivity and laughter was infectious if ever you had a
chance to meet him. Mr. Jones’ influence went beyond the classroom and onto the basketball
court where he mentored and supported our scholars beyond just academics which is the
mission of who we are as a community. We are forever grateful for the time we had with him
and will miss him greatly.

Grief and Support counselors have been available for all staff and scholars that are in need of
additional support during this time.

Jessica Beasley, executive director and superintendent of East Chicago Lighthouse Charter School and Northwest Indiana Lighthouse Charter Schools