Elementary school teacher who “murdered partner and buried body in yard” is fired from school

An elementary school teacher who allegedly murdered her partner and buried his body in her back garden has now been fired from her job.

Fiona Beal, 48, has been kicked out of the school where she taught for a year and a half while awaiting trial for killing Nick Billingham, 42.

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She was released on Monday, the day of her first court date on charges of murder.

The mother-of-one is accused of killing her construction worker boyfriend between October 30 and November 10 last year.

Nick’s body was found on Saturday at the couple’s home in Kingsley, Northants, after four days of digging – and months after he was reported missing.

A spokesman for Eastfield Academy said: “We can confirm that she is no longer employed by us.

“She was employed by Eastfield from September 2020 until yesterday.”

Shocked parents, students and staff are appalled at the teacher’s arrest.

A Northampton Primary school source said: “It has been a terrible shock and we are doing everything we can to protect and help the young children at this difficult time.”

Beal appeared at Northampton Crown Court yesterday but only spoke to give her name, age and address – the house where the body was found.

She was remanded in custody to appear before the same court on April 19.

She previously appeared in the city’s magistrates’ court — and then was unaware she’d lost her job.

The school initially issued a statement to the indictment over the weekend, but did not refer to its employment status.

It said: “We were shocked and saddened to hear that one of our teachers has been charged with a very serious crime and is now being remanded in custody.

“We are particularly aware of the impact this news will have on the children and will do everything we can to support both students and staff as we navigate this difficult time together.

“This is an appalling tragedy that will shake our school community to the core and at times like these we need to rally around, support and be kind to one another.”

This is terrible. My daughter’s teacher.

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Parents of students taught by Beal also shared their shock to find out the teacher had been stolen online.

One wrote on social media: “This is awful. My daughter’s teacher.”

Another said: “So sad and shocking news. She was my son’s teacher.”

The gruesome discovery of Nick’s body has also shaken neighbors, with one even saying he’s now selling.

Resident Ian Young told how he “absolutely freaked out” after finding out Beal was a murder suspect.

Speaking to The Sun Online, he said: “I can’t believe this happened.

“It totally freaked me out and I’m going to move now. It’s shocking and very scary,” said the father of three.

“I have children aged 15, nine and 14 months and the older one knows what happened.”

DCI Adam Pendlebury, of the East Midlands Special Operations Unit’s Major Crime Team, said: “This remains a complex and challenging investigation and we urge anyone with information to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101 and report the incident number 26 of March 16, 2022.”

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