Wednesday, April 10, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
The school district honored a hero.
School custodian Jeff Porter was applauded and praised for coming to the rescue of Toni Smith, a school librarian burned and disfigured by man who threw sulfuric acid on her in the parking lot of Crestwood Elementary School.
The custodian heard the screams of Smith and rushed to her aid. He suffered first- and second-degree burns on his hands from picking up Smith and carrying her to the nurse's station.
She suffered third-degree burns over nearly half of her body from the Dec. 7 attack, but came to the School Board meeting Tuesday to show her thanks and appreciation.
"If it weren't for his quickness and lack of concern for himself, I don't know what would have happened," Smith said after she slowly rose from her seat and walked to the podium. Tears formed in her eyes as she hugged Porter.
Smith's ex-husband, Robert Breault, will stand trial on charges related to the June 24 attack. He is accused of hiring the assailant.
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