A married special needs teacher who is accused of molesting a 15-year-old boy was caught after his mother found messages on his phone. Christina Formella, 30, was arrested just days after the boy’s mother had bought him a new phone and attempted to link it to iCloud, revealing the alleged abuse.
It is understood that the woman came across text messages between the teacher and her son, which allegedly indicated a relationship and sexual activity. The teacher, who taught at Downers Grove South High School in Chicago, married her childhood sweetheart just months after the alleged abuse. DuPage County Attorney Robert Berlin said: “The allegations against Ms. Formella are extremely disturbing.
“It is alleged that she used her position of trust and authority as a tutor and a coach to sexually assault a minor student. The type of abuse and behaviour alleged in this case will not be tolerated.”
The abuse is alleged to have occurred in December 2023 in a classroom before the day’s lessons got under way.
Formella, who started teaching in 2017, joined the school in 2020, working in the special services department. She has coached soccer at the school since 2021, and this is where she is believed to have come into contact with the boy that she is alleged to have abused.
The teacher has denied the allegations, according to the court petition.
However, prosecutors believe additional evidence has come to light since the investigation started.
The teacher’s social media profiles show her smiling blissfully next to her new husband, who played baseball for Concordia University Chicago, where they both attended, in August 2024.
Other photos show her out to dinner and posing in a football kit. The young teacher recently scrubbed her Instagram account of pictures but posted a story in which she said: “I did not do it, I swear.”
Formella has been released on bail and is prohibited from visiting the school or contacting anyone under the age of 18.
Downers Grove South High School principal Arwen Lyp emailed parents to reassure them following the charges.
It read: “We are devastated, and our community is reeling. An adult has been charged with the most serious of violations, and trust has been broken. Our team is here to support students who are impacted by this terrible news.”
“The school is now cooperating with law enforcement to investigate the allegations and will reach out directly to the parents of students who have had direct contact with Formella.”
