Principal Suzette York 'stabbed to death by student' in $10,000-a-year church school

The principal of a private high school was found dead after apparently being stabbed to death by one of her students today.

The body of Suzette York, 48, was found in a pool of blood inside the Memphis Junior Academy - a Seventh-day Adventist Church-affiliated school which charges up to $10,000-a-year in tuition.

She had been the principal at the school since 2008.

Police spokeswoman Karen Rudolph said a 17-year-old student was taken into custody.

A motive and cause of death were not immediately disclosed nor was the name of the victim.

Marvin Lowman, Communications Director for the Kentucky/Tennessee Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, said that Ms York became a teacher in 1983, and taught for a time in British Columbia.

He told My Fox Memphis that: 'Principal York was highly regarded and revered by all teaching staff. She was passionate and took her work seriously. She wanted the best for her students.'

Classes at the one-story, red brick school began Monday. A sign out front Wednesday said 'Welcome back'.

The school was surrounded by yellow crime scene tape after the body was found. Police officers milled about.

'It's a frightening thing for children to see,' said Pastor David Steede of the New Covenant Seventh-day Adventist Church, who arrived at the school shortly after the body was found. He said he has parishioners attending the school.

'Homicide': Memphis Police hold a sheet up as the body of Suzette York is removed. Officers have arrested a 17-year-old student at the school over the killing

The school's website says it has students from pre-kindergarten through 11th grade.

It's part of the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist school network.

'Our staff is committed to providing quality education is a Christian environment,' the website says.

A United Methodist Church and a church cemetery are across the street..

Linda Taylor told The Commercial Appeal she received a call from her husband who said the school called and told them to pick up their 14-year-old son, Josiah, because there was an emergency.

The school didn't say that someone had been killed.

"I'm just wondering what's going on," she said at the scene.
It's her son's first year at the school.