SAUSD unknowingly almost rehired teacher accused of killing wife with dementia
Justin Davidson, former math teacher at Middle College High School, was almost rehired by SAUSD—unaware of his arrest and charge for murder of his dementia-stricken wife.
The Santa Ana Unified School District nearly rehired a recently laid-off teacher this summer, not knowing he had been arrested weeks earlier in Arizona for allegedly murdering his wife, a former SAUSD educator with dementia.
Justin Davidson, 46, had taught mathematics for two years at Middle College High School before being laid off in May along with other certificated staff due to budget shortfalls, SAUSD spokesperson Fermin Leal told The Santanero.
Davidson’s Facebook profile shows a long history of employment with multiple Southern California school districts, including Santa Ana Unified as far back as 2015, and with Maricopa County, Arizona.
According to a Maricopa County Attorney’s office press release, about a week after the school year ended, Davidson traveled to Eternal Springs of Gilbert in Gilbert, Arizona, where his wife, Danielle Crosbie-Davidson, was living in an assisted care facility being treated for advanced dementia.
Davidson reportedly admitted to crushing 50–60 oxycodone pills mixed with another narcotic and secretly giving them to her over several days. When that failed, court documents allege, he bought sleeping pills from Target, mixed them into a blue raspberry slushie, and smothered her with a pillow.
Staff at the facility discovered Crosbie-Davidson’s body during a routine overnight check on June 11. They reported suspicious bruises on her cheek, noted her tongue was still blue from the drink, and told investigators her health had declined rapidly since Davidson’s arrival.
According to AZFamily, staff had previously told Davidson to “stop locking the door” during check-ins.
Davidson was arrested and booked in June on one count of first-degree murder. He sits in Maricopa County Jail on $1 million bond, awaiting trial in February 2026.
On June 8—just days before her death—Davidson posted two photos of himself with Crosbie-Davidson on Facebook.
Leal confirmed to The Santanero that on August 1, SAUSD’s Human Resources department tried to contact Davidson about returning to the district, unaware of his arrest and pending charges. Still unaware, they called him twice more the following week. Again, no response.
Sources told The Santanero that Davidson had been scheduled to teach a college career planning course at Middle College High School this fall. His name appeared on the master schedule, but student schedules were abruptly changed this week. Those who asked about his absence were told he had a “family emergency.”
Middle College officials have yet to explain why Davidson’s name appeared on the master schedule despite him being in jail and unable to respond to Human Resources and accept the rehire packet. A statement is expected this week.
A lack of a notification system that alerts school districts of employee arrests or charges outside their state appears to be the fault in the unknowingness of Mr. Davidson.
“Arizona law enforcement did not contact SAUSD at the time of the arrest or when charges were filed,” said Leal. ‘There is an alert system where SAUSD is notified when a current employee is arrested within the [S]tate of California.”
Since Davidson’s arrest occurred in Arizona and after his employment officially ended on May 30, it did not trigger any alerts.
Crosbie-Davidson taught English and history at Saddleback High School from at least 2016 to 2023 and was active in a theater group in Arizona.
