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The Big Lies › 2012 › File PF-0021
Retracted

Sandy Hook: Shooter's Mother Reported as a Teacher at the School

Major outlets reported that Nancy Lanza, the gunman's mother, taught kindergarten or substituted at Sandy Hook Elementary, implying a motive tied to her classroom.

First reported Dec 14, 2012 · The New York Times, The Washington Post, Associated Press
Screenshot of the original report as published
Screenshot of the report as published: talkingpointsmemo.com. Tap to open the source.
Who it helped: Neither party

A breaking-news error in a national tragedy, not tied to a partisan narrative.

What was reported

Major outlets reported that Nancy Lanza, the gunman's mother, taught kindergarten or substituted at Sandy Hook Elementary, implying a motive tied to her classroom.

What actually happened

The Times said she taught kindergarten there; the Post quoted a neighbor calling her a kindergarten teacher at Sandy Hook; AP cited a parent saying she was a substitute. Within a day, the Wall Street Journal found no one at the school had heard of her, AP found her name on no staff list, and the Newtown superintendent said on NBC's Today she had no connection to the school. Outlets updated their stories.

The proof

The Newtown schools superintendent stated she was not on staff and not in the district's database.

The receipt. Copy this and paste it anywhere:

Sandy Hook: Shooter's Mother Reported as a Teacher at the School — Retracted. The Newtown schools superintendent stated she was not on staff and not in the district's database. Full file: https://www.thepropagandafiles.com/case/nancy-lanza-sandy-hook-teacher-2012/

Original reporting

Corrections, findings & records

Archived copies

Stories get edited after publication. These open the Internet Archive's earliest saved copy of each original.

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