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Rachael Elena DelTondo, a Pennsylvania teacher who was recently suspended from her position after a police report regarding her having an encounter with an underage student from another school came to light, was killed by shooting late Sunday night this past Mother’s Day in the Aliquippa neighborhood, just outside of Pittsburgh.
What happened?
DelTondo, who was 32 at the time of her death, was shot after telling her family that she was out with a friend, according to WPXI. Police had been called in around 10:30 P.M. local time where they found DelTondo; she was found shot after getting out of her car, with neighbors claiming they heard around 10 to 12 gunshots. At this time, it is believed that she died at the scene.
According to Beaver Countian, DelTondo received multiple death threats, adding that she was warned at least once that she would not live to see the end of the year; DelTondo also confirmed that she reported the threats to authorities.
According to District Attorney David Lozier, investigators are trying to collect information from a cell phone that might give information on the case, although the owner of the cell phone was not identified.
Who is Rachael DelTondo?
According to Times Online, towards the end of last year, DelTondo was suspended with pay from her teaching job at Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School after a police report alleging there had been an incident involving her and a former student came to light.
The incident, which took place early 2016, involved an officer finding Deltondo and the juvenile parked near Aliquippa Hospital property, noting that “the windows were steamed over and the engine was not running.” When qeustioned by the officer, Deltondo claimed that she was just friends with the student and that they were only talking; police added that she claimed she was only talking with the teen because “he was upset and needed someone to talk to.” Officers later drove the teen home.
No charges were filed against DelTondo over the incident, but the school became aware of the incident after being sent an anonymous email over the story this past October.
According to Times Online, Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School CEO Brian Hayden issued the following statement:
“Nobody, including Ms. Deltondo, the Aliquippa Police Department, the juvenile male or his family, or any other person or agency had informed PA Cyber of this or any other incident.”
“We understand that it is our legal and ethical responsibility to protect all children, which is why we have taken the actions that we have.”
The incident report named the teen and it was confirmed that he was not registered at the charter school.
Reportedly, her name was sometimes misspelled as “Rachel” in certain media publications concerning the story.
