‘She never felt seen’: Nevada teacher confesses explicit abuse of at least 12 children, many relatives

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

Taji Hillson, a 62-year-old former elementary school teacher in Reno, Nevada, has confessed to sexually abusing at least 12 children, one as young as 2, and many of whom were Hillson’s relatives.

In April 2025, an alleged Hillson victim and relative, who is now an adult, contacted police, reporting that when she was a child, she would have the sensation of being touched and wake up with Hillson “hovering over her.” She also reportedly showed police text messages and an apology letter from Hillson in which she admitted to drugging and touching her inappropriately when she was a minor, according to the Reno Gazette. The woman said the abuse continued when she was an adult.

Hillson admitted everything

After police met with Hillson, she admitted what she did and said she had done the same thing to about 12 other children over the years, many of them relatives, and a 2-year-old child at a public pool as recently as two years ago.

Hillson reportedly told police she committed the abuse because “she never felt seen and desired to be close to another person.”

Hillson’s police report, viewed by the Reno Gazette, said, “The defendant admitted to giving her Benadryl to sedate her by sneaking it in her food” before the abuse happened. “The defendant described doing this throughout the victim’s childhood but more frequently from age 6-12 as her husband worked night shifts at that time.”

Hillson also admitted to drugging and touching her inappropriately as an adult, after she returned home from college, the police report said. The victim is reportedly financially dependent on Hillson. Hillson also said that most of the children she abused were relatives in North Carolina.

Reports say Hillson worked at Roy Gomm Elementary School in Reno, but quit in June. Investigators say there’s no evidence she abused any students at the school.

The allegations are “deeply disturbing”

In a press release, Washoe County District Attorney Chris Hicks said in part, “The allegations in this case are deeply disturbing, and are currently involving two victims, one of whom is a toddler. I commend the extraordinary courage of the adult victim who came forward to report this abuse; a brave act that has allowed us to seek justice and protect others from harm.”

Hillson is currently jailed in Washoe County on a $5 million bond following her July 2, 2025, arrest on multiple felony charges, including sexual assault and lewdness with a child under 14. A preliminary hearing is set for July 22 to determine if the case will proceed to trial, while the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office continues to investigate and may bring additional charges.

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