Late teacher’s husband accused of threatening graduation ceremony, blaming wife’s suicide on school

*EDITOR’S NOTE: This story mentions suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by texting or calling 988.

ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. (KMOV/Gray News) — A late teacher’s husband is accused of making threats of violence toward a Missouri high school graduation and blaming the school district for his wife’s death.

St. Charles County prosecutors said Alex S. Reichert threatened St. Charles High School’s graduation ceremony and made many students fear for their safety.

Authorities said the threats against the graduation ceremony were made in posts on Instagram.

Threats followed wife’s death

Police said the threats started after Reichert’s wife, Skye Reichert, died by suicide.

Skye Reichert was a teacher at the school, but had been removed from her classroom and replaced by a substitute teacher three weeks before her death.

Police said Alex Reichert blamed the St. Charles City School District for his wife’s death. He parked his deceased wife’s car at the district offices 15 times, according to police.

Students feared for their safety

Students said they have been fearful for their safety for weeks. A growing number of them were considering staying home from their high school graduation Sunday because of threats online and those sent directly to students.

Kenzie Davis, the senior class president at St. Charles High School, said her mother planned to keep her home from her graduation.

“I haven’t been to school since Tuesday morning just because of my mom taking precautionary steps,” Davis said.

Davis said she was going to be disappointed if she had to miss out on her speech at graduation.

“I also have a really big speech I am doing at graduation because I’m the senior class president. So, I was going to be really disappointed if I had to miss out on that,” Davis said.

Melissa Prichard, a senior at St. Charles High School, said threats were made directly to the graduation ceremony.

“As seniors, our graduation is coming up, and there were direct threats to our graduation. It brought a lot of stress and anxiety to us,” Prichard said.

Jayden Carey, a St. Charles High School student, said he saw some of the threats online.

“Yes, I did see a few threats online. One more recently, where he [Alex Reichert] mentioned buying a [tactical] chest carrier and he couldn’t wait to use it this weekend,” Carey said.

Prichard and Carey stepped up to make sure police were informed of the threats.

“I saw some threats online, and I immediately reported them,” Prichard said.

District notified parents

On April 1, the school district notified parents via email that it had arranged for an additional police officer to patrol the campus perimeter until further notice.

On May 8, the district emailed parents, stating that it had been aware of and was closely monitoring concerns about an individual.

An email sent May 13 said the district was closely monitoring an individual who had made threats toward the school.

Students relieved after arrest

Alex Reichert is also accused of stalking a district employee. He was charged Thursday with first-degree stalking and first-degree making a terrorist threat.

He is being held at the St. Charles County Jail without bond.

Following the arrest, students said they feel a sense of safety and relief as they prepare for graduation on Sunday.

“Yeah, it’s a really good feeling not having to worry about it any longer,” Davis said.

“It’s definitely a weight lifted off my chest knowing that my family can come and attend graduation safely,” Carey said.

However, students said security will still be on their minds after living in fear for the last two months.

St. Charles police said the safety of students remains their highest priority.