Elissa Edwards worked at dance studios across North Carolina, kid dancers accused her of sexual assault
In November 2026 Elissa Edwards, 43, pleaded guilty to one count of felony child abuse by causing serious physical injury in Raleigh, NC. Elissa was a dance teacher for years. Multiple child dancers came forward accusing Elissa of sexually assaulting them for years.
Elissa Edwards
Elissa was first indicted in 2025 for sex offenses involving kids and indecent liberties with a child.
Chick-fil-a employee Heather Matuszek was arrested accused of sleeping in the same bed with a teen girl. Heather was a Chick-fil-a owner and operator in charge of a Chick-fil-a restaurant.
Children at multiple dance studios across North Carolina came forward to police alleging Elissa sexually assaulted them.
A female former dance student said that she was abused for years by Elissa. The victim was 13 years old at the time of the sexual encounters.
Elissa was arrested in 2025 charged with several sex crimes. In November 2026 Elissa accepted a plea deal and pled guilty to child abuse. Elissa will not be allowed to work with anyone under the age of 18 in any capacity under her plea agreement.
Elissa was sentenced to six to eight months in prison, but that sentence was suspended in lieu of probation. She will serve three years of supervised probation.
