Christina Formella, recently married special ed teacher at Illinois’ Downers Grove South High School arrested sexually abusing 15 year old boy during tutorial lesson. Police release texts between teacher and victim in which they profess their love for each other.
A married Illinois special education teacher has been accused of molesting a 15 year old boy during a tutoring session.
Christina Formella, 30, was arrested in the Chicago suburb of Downers Grove Sunday — days after a student told police the female educator molested him in a Downers Grove South High School classroom in December 2023.
Formella — who married her college sweetheart in August 2024 — also coached soccer at the school, WGN-TV reported.
Christina Formella kept a Notes app memoir accusing teen victim of cheating on her and breaking up
Downers Grove teacher dicey classroom romps revealed according to court documents
Christina Formella text messages with victim released
DuPage County prosecutors said that Formella coached the boy and was his tutor, and the alleged sex assault happened before the school day started.
‘The allegations against Ms. Formella are extremely disturbing,’ DuPage County Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement.
‘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 behavior alleged in this case will not be tolerated.’
The boy’s mother uncovered the details of the alleged assault after looking through the teen boy’s phone, and on Friday the pair went to the Downers Grove Police Department together to report the incident.
Reports WGN-TV: ‘According to court documents, the boy had a broken cell phone and his mother purchased a new one for him. She signed into the Cloud and, at that time, text messages appeared between her son and a number the mother recognized as being Formella’s.’
A sample of one text thread message involved the 15 year old newly married teacher professing their love for each other.
Student: ‘I love you so so much mama.’
Formella: ‘I love you sooooo much baby… Even though this morning was short, it was perfect.’
Student: ‘I know baby it was perfect baby so perfect.’
Formella: ‘I love having sex with you.’
Student: ‘I know baby I love it so much… It feels so good… It’s so passionate. .. It’s so intimate … It’s so perfect.’
Christina Formella Downers Grove teacher hysteria upon arrest newly released bodycam captured
Christina Formella Downers Grove teacher claims being blackmailed by teen victim
Abuse of position of authority, trust and power
When questioned, court documents show the student said he and Formella started texting ‘a year and a half ago’ and one time, they FaceTimed while Formella was out of state.
When confronted about that material, Formella initially told police the writings were an ‘outlet for her anxiety’ and said any reference to sex was specifically about her husband.
Court documents also show that the investigation into Formella’s phone records showed several mentions of the student in her ‘Notes’ app.
Police caught up with Formella during a traffic stop in Downers Grove on Sunday and arrested her.
Wedding photos from social media show her smiling last fall with her newly married husband, who played baseball for their alma mater, Concordia University Chicago.
Formella has since been charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and one count of criminal sexual assault.
Formella was released on the condition that she have no contact with anybody under age 18, and that she not enter the Downers Grove South High School pending her next court hearing, NBC5 reported.
Formella has taught at the school since 2020, according to her LinkedIn.
Formella has been placed on paid administrative leave.
