Dean Gray is pictured with his mother, Cherina Gray, in 2013 – the year he started having sex with his teacher
The family of a young father who was cared for by his high school teacher as a teenager before his tragic death at age 25 finally tastes justice.
Dean Gray, from Narrabri in northern NSW, was 17 and in his senior year of high school in 2013 when he began having sex with his teacher, who cannot be named for legal reasons.
Eight years later in October 2021, Dean had a promising career in mining and was engaged to Taylor Baxter, the mother of his young sons, when he dislocated his shoulder and drowned in the Namoi River during a boys camping trip.
His family has been fighting for action against the teacher, but police said the complaint could not proceed because the victim was dead.
More than a decade after Dean and the teacher began a sexual relationship, she was finally fired this week.
She was stepped down from her position last year and has now been dismissed by the NSW Department of Education, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. She has also been placed on a no-employee list.
Dean’s mother Cherina Gray said: ‘I think this is a good result – completely appropriate and she won’t be hired again. That’s a win for Dean.”
Father Rob Gray said it was “a little bit of justice for Dean,” but added: “It’s been hell for the family since 2016. And it’s been extremely difficult for the family.
“It’s been a huge rollercoaster ride for all of us, we’ve had our downs. We felt that the police had let us down with regard to the evidence we had handed over to them.”
Dean Gray was engaged to Taylor Baxter (pictured together) when he drowned during a camping trip
It wasn’t until after Dean’s death that his parents, Rob and Cherina, began searching his phone and found up to 6,000 Facebook messages between him and the teacher – sent between April and July 2013.
The lyrics – obtained by Daily Mail Australia – showed that the pair spoke enthusiastically about their exploits during their three-month relationship, talking about sexual stamina, achievements and reflection on their encounters.
However, a disturbing conversation with a close friend showed Dean’s true feelings about the situation: he seemed to struggle with the nature of the relationship and warned against “getting close to her.”
It can also be revealed that the Grays family and Mrs. Baxter have been at war since the tragedy; they try to hit each other with restraining orders, argue about his estate, demand paternity tests, and publicly criticize each other online.
Dean and a close friend were talking about the teacher in 2015 when he suddenly revealed how he really felt about the situation (pictured)
In a 2015 Facebook conversation, Dean and his friend were talking about the teacher when he suddenly said, “She’s an arrogant old woman who thinks she’s a gift from God.”
“The way I fucked her, she always tried to make it passionate and slow, like it was a love session.
“She’s a deep, dark and twisted dude, believe me, you don’t want to get tied down to her.”
“I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.”
His parents learned about the relationship through another member of the family the following year in 2016, but Dean would not file a formal complaint and backed away from his family when they tried to encourage him to do so.
Since his death, Mrs. Gray has been pushing for an investigation into the teacher, because “I don’t want this to happen to anyone else.”
But his fiancé, Ms Baxter, told Daily Mail Australia ‘that’s not what he would want.’
“He didn’t want this and I want to respect his wishes,” she said.
“He was 25 when he died and he didn’t want to file a complaint at the time, and that’s old enough to make a decision.”
Dean Gray (pictured) died on a camping trip when he dislocated his shoulder
The family split seems to have started just after Dean’s death in 2021, after a friend started a Go Fund Me campaign to raise money to help Ms Baxter with “funeral arrangements and other financial issues.”
There were disagreements over who should pay for the burial, headstone and his estate.
Ms Baxter then attempted to issue a warrant of violence against Ms Gray in January of this year, but this was rejected.
In March, Mrs. Gray attempted to issue a warrant of violence against Mrs. Baxter’s mother, Kelita, but it was rejected.
Ms. Gray and Kelita Baxter have signed pledges and agreed not to harass each other.
Despite the commitment, Ms Baxter said Ms Gray has continued to mention her on Facebook and make complaints about her to other people – and Ms Gray says the same about Kelita.
Earlier this year, the family blocked Dean’s mother from his Facebook page – which is still active despite his death – and began calling Ms Gray ‘crazy’ and falsely accusing her of taking drugs.
Mx Baxter said she blocked Ms Gray from the page because she kept sharing his cover photo, which featured her infant son.
Ms Baxter’s mother, Kelita Baxter, said she would not comment on the case due to a ‘police investigation’.
The situation left both sides of the family in distress and communication was through the police and lawyers.
Mrs Gray said she has not been allowed to see her grandchildren for about a year, and says she wants proof that Dean is the youngest boy’s father.
Ms. Baxter firmly rejected the idea that her one-year-old has a different father.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the NSW Department of Education said the investigation into the teacher had been reopened, based on new evidence provided in April.
“The ministry’s Professional and Ethical Standards Directorate resumed its investigation into the new evidence in April this year, after receiving police clearance,” they said.
“A final decision will be made shortly.”
The teacher, who had been promoted at another school since Dean’s abuse, was barred from personal contact with children within 48 hours of receiving the evidence.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the teacher for comment.
Dean Gray is depicted on the fatal camping trip, in the clothes he was wearing when he died