The Greene County Sheriff’s Office is still trying to understand why 32-year-old Michaelann Goodrich posed as a homeless teen, to try to enroll as a student at Cairo-Durham High School. Goodrich used the alias Riley Madison.

Senior Investigator Joel Rowell says it started back on Dec. 19, when Goodrich came to the school and told administrators she was homeless and wanted to enroll. The school was obligated to allow her to sign up under the federal McKinney-Vento Act.

Rowell says she registered, rode the bus to and from school, attended classes on Dec. 20, and then was absent Dec. 21. Goodrich told administrators she had a doctor’s appointment, according to Rowell, then the day after that was winter break.

School Superintendent Anthony Taibi was not available for an in person interview on Friday, but in a phone interview Taibi says Goodrich was never unsupervised during her time at the school. Rowell explained, from what he understands, it is district policy to ensure students are acclimated and can find their new classes.

Rowell and Taibi says they couldn’t share the exact circumstances that led administrators to believe Goodrich was not who she said she was, but Rowell says her story didn’t exactly add up.

Cairo Town Board Member Jason Watts, who has a second grader in the district’s elementary school, reacted on Friday.

“[She] shouldn’t have just been let in the door,” Watts said. “Who knows who that person could’ve been?”

Watts says he is irate that Goodrich was able to ride the bus and go to classes with other teens. He says the buses in the district serve all grades, and Goodrich could have ridden the bus with kids even younger.

“I’m floored by it, I get goosebumps thinking about it,” Watts said. “It went from the bus driver, then the teachers, I can’t believe nobody picked up on this.”

Still, Rowell says the school did exactly what they were supposed to do, following the McKinney-Vento Act, then called police when they thought something was wrong.

“They were very forthcoming and very quick with the information to tell us what’s going on, and to assist in our investigation every way possible,” Rowell said.

Rowell says Goodrich has an address in Cairo, but is originally from California and has also spent time in Washington State. He sys investigators now need help figuring out why she did this and whether she has done it before.  

“We’re reaching out to the parents. Let us know if your child had any interaction with her,” Rowell said. “And any other school districts around. We’re trying to determine whether she tried to register with another school or not.”

Taibi says Cairo-Durham has never had an issue like this before, but the district is familiar with enrolling students under McKinney-Vento calling it “a reality a lot of districts face.” He also says his situation was not unique and other districts have had issues with enrolling students.

Taibi also added, “I think this situation highlights some of the vulnerabilities [of the McKinney-Vento] Act.”

Calls and emails to Cairo-Durham High School Principal Nicholas Fitzgerald, School Board President Steven Brandow, the Cairo-Durham Middle and High School Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), were not immediately returned.

Rowell says they are monitoring their Facebook page and urge parents to reach out to them that way or by giving them a call with information. 

Rowell confirmed depending on what they learn about Goodrich’s motives, she could be facing additional charges. He says she was arraigned and was being held on $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond, but it’s unclear if she is still in the custody of the Greene County Jail.