‘She never felt seen’: Court exposes finally Taji Hillson’s accuser and the backstory is more complicated

Content warning: This article describes child sexual abuse. Please take care while reading.

Court documents have revealed the exact relationship between Taji Hillson and her primary accuser. Hillson, a former Reno, Nevada substitute teacher, has reportedly confessed to at least 12 cases of child sexual abuse, including abuse against members of her own family.

Police arrested Hillson, 62, in early July 2025 following a months-long investigation into allegations of past child sexual abuse. The investigation began after a “relative” came forward with claims that Hillson had abused her during childhood.

According to court documents, viewed by Reno’s News 4-Fox 11, the relative was Hillson’s daughter. Authorities reviewed text messages and conducted interviews that supported the accuser’s account, leading to multiple felony charges, including sexual assault and lewdness with a minor.

Hillson confessed everything

According to court records and police reports, Hillson admitted to wrongdoing during an interview with investigators. She acknowledged inappropriate conduct not only with the initial accuser but also referenced other possible victims, many of them also relatives, and one of whom was a neighbor’s 2-year-old child. She admitted she gave her daughter extra doses of Benadryl to put her to sleep before the abuse happened.

According to News 4-Fox 11, Hillson said she needed to control her daughter, and continued the abuse after she returned from college as an adult.

The Hillson case has drawn significant public attention due to the nature of the allegations, Hillson’s role in education, and her statements suggesting a pattern of misconduct that spanned years and involved multiple individuals. According to Hillson’s police report, she told investigators, “she never felt seen and desired to be close to another person.”

Following her arrest, Hillson was booked into the Washoe County Jail. With bail set at $5 million, she remains in custody. Prosecutors argued against pretrial release, citing concerns for public safety and the scope of the accusations. The case is ongoing, with court proceedings expected to continue through the summer as authorities investigate potential additional victims and prepare for a likely trial.

If you know someone suffering from sexual violence, contact RAINN or the National Sexual Abuse Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673