According to CNN, Vahey was a teacher for more than 40 years. From 1978 to 1980 he was also employed by the American Community School in Athens. He owned homes in London, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and he traveled quite extensively. He worked in schools -teaching a variety of subjects-, he was a coach in several basketball teams and he used to accompany children on school trips.
His crimes were exposed by his housekeeper in Nicaragua. She apparently discovered a memory stick of Vahey's that contained photographs of all the children that were abused and she gave this evidence to his school principal who acted immediately. (Sick!)
The US-based FBI took over the case, but it was too late, this sick elderly man had already killed himself before an arrest could be made.
According to the FBI, the schools where he taught in chronological include:
- - American Nicaraguan School in Managua, Nicaragua (2013-2014)
- - Southbank International School in London, United Kingdom (2009-2013)
- - Escuela Campo Alegre in Caracas, Venezuela (2002-2009)
- - Jakarta International School in Jakarta, Indonesia (1992-2002)
- - Saudi Aramco Schools in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia (1980-1992)
- - American Community School in Athens, Greece (1978-1980)
- - Passargad School in Ahwaz, Iran (1976-1978)
- - American School of Madrid in Spain (1975-1976)
- - American Community School of Beirut in Lebanon (1973-1975)
- - Tehran American School in Iran (1972-1973)