Craig Jones, a 47-year-old special education teacher and basketball coach at East Chicago Lighthouse Charter School, was found dead in a stairwell of the school on December 24, 2015. School maintenance staff discovered his body at about 6:41 a.m. after he had told family the night before he would stay late to work and had arranged for a relative to pick him up around 10:30 p.m.; he never emerged from the building and did not make further contact.

The Lake County Prosecutor’s Homicide Task Force assumed the investigation. Authorities reported no immediate signs of foul play and had not reached a conclusion about the circumstances. His unexpected death left family, students and staff shocked; grief counselors were made available and school leadership emphasized his dedication to students and extracurricular life.

Anyone who was at the school the night of December 23–24 or who saw Craig after 10:30 p.m. is asked to come forward with information.