Christina Formella, a married special education teacher at Downers Grove South High School, was arrested on March 16, 2023, after being accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old student.
In shocking bodycam footage, Formella is seen breaking down in distress after learning the serious charges against her.
The footage captures her uncontrollably sobbing and gasping for air as she is placed into the back of a police vehicle.
“Oh my God. What the f–k?” Formella repeatedly exclaims, her voice filled with disbelief, as she rocks back and forth in the police car with her knees pulled to her chest.
She struggles to understand the situation, telling the officers, “I feel like I’m gonna throw up,” prompting them to quickly offer her a bag to vomit into.
Formella, 30, had been tutoring and coaching the boy in soccer, and the investigation revealed explicit text messages exchanged between them, in which they professed their affection for each other and discussed inappropriate encounters at the school. At the time of these messages, Formella was 28 years old.
The case came to light when the boy’s mother discovered the texts while setting up her son’s new phone. After the boy confessed to the relationship, the police were notified, leading to Formella’s arrest.
When the police stopped Formella’s vehicle, which she was driving with her husband, she seemed confused and asked, “Is she going somewhere?” Her husband, equally bewildered, asked if she was in trouble.
Formella was told she was being detained for an investigation, and as the officers placed her in handcuffs, she asked, “Is my husband coming with me?”
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During her subsequent interview, Formella claimed that the student had blackmailed her by sending the explicit texts to himself from her phone, but she denied any wrongdoing.
She also argued that she was being targeted because of her appearance and that she was just trying to help the boy.
Formella has been charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault and placed on paid leave from her teaching position. She is prohibited from entering school grounds or having contact with minors.
