A special education teacher and soccer coach in Illinois has been arrested on charges of engaging in sexual conduct with a student. Christina Formella, who worked at South Downers Grove High School, faces serious allegations after police were alerted by the mother of the student, who discovered explicit text messages between her son and Formella.
The investigation began on March 16 when police approached Formella in her driveway to question her about the allegations. Bodycam footage from the incident shows Formella expressing confusion and fear as officers informed her that she was being detained for questioning. “I don’t understand what’s going on here,” she said, visibly distressed.
According to the state attorney, the mother of the teenage boy found the incriminating messages while setting up her son’s new iPhone. The texts included declarations of love and explicit discussions of sexual encounters, which prompted her to report the matter to law enforcement. The boy reportedly told police that he and Formella had developed feelings for one another, and detailed an encounter that allegedly took place in her classroom before school in December 2023.
In the police report, the teenager described a sexual encounter that involved both parties engaging in sexual acts while the classroom door was locked. Following the investigation, Formella was taken into custody and transported to the police department for questioning.
During the interrogation, Formella denied having sexual relations with the student but acknowledged that her relationship with him was inappropriate. She claimed that her feelings for the boy were genuine and suggested that others were targeting her due to her looks. Investigators found notes on her phone that included references to their relationship, with Formella expressing feelings of being manipulated and gaslit.
As the police transported her to the station, Formella exhibited signs of distress, stating that she feared she might vomit. The officers provided her with a bag in case she felt ill during the ride. The gravity of the situation appeared to weigh heavily on her as she contemplated the serious nature of the allegations against her.
Formella is charged with one count of aggravated sexual abuse and one count each of criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Following her arrest, she was booked at the local jail and is scheduled to appear in court on April 14. As the investigation continues, the case raises significant concerns about the responsibilities of educators and the protection of students in school environments.