Photo: Facebook
She was gunned down on Mother's Day.
By Sarah Gangraw — Written on May 18, 2018
Two years ago Rachael DelTondo was found in a car with an underage student at 2 a.m. She was shot and killed Sunday and investigators have dubbed her murder a “crime of passion.”
Investigators are piecing together evidence and events that occurred over the past three years in order to find DelTondo’s killer but have not named any suspects. So who killed Rachael DelTondo?
"We were saddened to learn of the tragic death of Rachel DelTondo, apparently the result of a violent incident in the City of Aliquippa,” Brian Hayden, the school's CEO, told Fox News in a statement. “We have no additional information beyond what is being reported by local media. We express our sympathy to her family and coworkers and will support them in any way possible in the weeks and months ahead as they mourn her passing."
Here is everything you need to know about the death of the 33-year-old school teacher, starting from the beginning:
1. She was found in a car with a 17-year-old boy two years ago.
In February of 2016, DelTondo was questioned after she was found in a “steamed-up” car with an underage student, who is now 20.
They both told police they were “just friends” who were “talking."
"The police get a call at night for a suspicious vehicle. They arrive. They see a vehicle that's parked with the engines off and the windows steamed over," John Paul, who originally covered the story, said of the incident. "She was allowed to go on her way. There was no charges filed."
2. She was suspended from teaching a year later.
DelTondo was suspended last November from a teaching job at Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School — a year after she was questioned in a car with the Sheldon Jeter, Jr., then 17.
The school received an anonymous email containing the police report from the previous year, The New York Post reports.
“It’s shameful that this woman was painted with a police report that had been written that did not result in criminal charges,” Beaver County District Attorney David Lozier said. “It was a personal vendetta against her at the time.”
3. She was warned she wouldn't live until the end of the year.
DelTondo told Aliquippa Police that she had received death threats from an unknown person. One of the threats stated that she would not live to see the end of 2018.
“Similar death threats were left on her parents’ answering machine. DelTondo contacted authorities to make a complaint. She said it took four days for an officer to contact her back to make a report,” Paul told Fox News.
The threats were always made anonymously.
"Was she living in fear?" CBS News' Nikki Battiste asked.
"At times, certainly I think she was," Paul replied.
4. She was shot and killed on Mother’s Day — in her mother’s driveway.
DelTondo was shot at point-blank range while she was getting out of her car in her mother’s driveway.
She had just returned from getting ice cream at a local spot with some friends, CBS reports.
Her friends, one of them being Jeter, Jr.’s brother, Tyrie Jeter, dropped DelTondo off at her mother’s and left. Gunshots were reported four minutes later.
5. She probably knew her killer.
Police have concluded that DelTondo was not targeted at random.
She most likely knew whoever shot and killed her, though it has yet to be determined who that is.
6. Her murder was a “crime of passion.”
Police believe the evidence they have found will prove DelTondo’s murder was a “crime of passion, KDKA-TV reports.
No suspects have been identified, but police have possession of Jeter, Jr.’s phone that they are unlocking to retrieve texts and data that may lead to her assailant.
6. Her ex-fiancé went public to prove he isn’t a suspect.
DelTondo’s ex-fiancé, Frank Catroppa, wanted to ensure he was not considered a suspect and said he wants justice for her, according to KDKA-TV.
“We wanted to be very, very clear publically that Frank Catroppa has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with what happened,” said his attorney, Stephen Colafella. “And it’s important to him, and it’s important to his family that the public knows that.”
Police interviewed Catroppa Tuesday and “seemed satisfied” with his responses.
“When you’re with somebody for eight years, that’s quite some time, you just hope to see that they at least get justice. It’s sad, a sad case,” Catroppa said. “…It’s an unfortunate tragedy, and hopefully, she gets justice.”
7. Jeter, Jr. showed no emotion when he learned of her death.
When police arrived at Jeter, Jr.’s home, they informed him of DelTondo’s murder to which he showed “no emotion,” the police affidavit reads.
He would not identify anyone involved in his alibi and the police believe his story may not be entirely true, although he is cooperating with investigators.
“I represent Sheldon Jeter. I have obtained a copy of the search warrant for my client,” Attorney Michael Santicola told Daily Mail. “He certainly is cooperating with any investigation because he had nothing to do with this tragic shooting. He has had a long-standing relationship with the victim, so I think just by the mere fact that police are investigating every person possibly connected to her his name came up.”
8. He is now the subject of the investigation.
The investigation into DelTondo’s death has shifted its focus to Jeter, Jr., Fox News reports.
Police obtained a search warrant for his home and collected bags of evidence during the search on May 14.
Sarah Gangraw is a travel-addicted cat lady who lives on black coffee and cheese. She went to college in Australia, graduated from the University of Central Florida, and writes about all things news and crime. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter — she's occasionally funny.