How Did the Investigation Uncover Additional Victims in the Disturbing Case?
An Indiana teacher accused of orchestrating group sexual encounters with underage students while making them wear “Scream” masks now faces 24 additional felony charges, bringing her total to 29 counts, according to court documents filed in Morgan County. Former substitute teacher Brittany Fortinberry, 31, will be advised of the new charges at a court hearing scheduled for April 3, prosecutors announced yesterday.
5 Key Points:
- Prosecutors say Fortinberry committed crimes against a sixth victim, leading to additional charges
- Five Level 1 child molestation charges could each carry 20-40 years in prison if convicted
- Her husband, Nicholas Fortinberry, filed for divorce on February 21, 2025, seeking custody of their child
- Fortinberry previously worked at Eminence High School until August 2024 and as a substitute in Martinsville until January 2025
- Her trial is scheduled to begin on June 25, 2025, according to court records
What Do the New Charges Mean for the Former Teacher?
County prosecutor Steven P. Sonnega confirmed that the 24 additional felonies include five Level 1 child molestation counts, which carry potential penalties of 20 to 40 years in prison for each count if Fortinberry is convicted. The remaining charges include Level 4, 5, and 6 offenses with sentences ranging from one to 12 years, according to Sonnega’s statement to media outlets.The severity of these charges reflects the disturbing nature of the allegations against the former educator.
Fortinberry initially faced charges related to allegations from five victims who came forward in early March 2025. According to court documents reviewed by various news outlets, one of the alleged victims reported that during encounters with the teacher, the boys “had to wear a scream mask” and “they would rotate every 15 minutes” in sexual encounters that would continue for hours. The investigation has since expanded to include a sixth victim, leading to the additional charges announced this week.
Why Did Her Husband File for Divorce?
According to court records, Nicholas Fortinberry filed for divorce on February 21, 2025, when the police investigation was just beginning. He is reportedly seeking temporary custody of the couple’s four-year-old child, as detailed in the divorce filing. The timing of the divorce filing coincides with the early stages of the criminal investigation, though it’s unclear what specific information prompted his decision.
In separate court documents, police noted that one of the boy’s parents told investigators that Brittany’s husband allegedly “knew about things” related to the inappropriate conduct. The full extent of what Nicholas Fortinberry may have known about his wife’s alleged actions remains under investigation, and authorities have not yet filed charges against him in connection with the case.
What Have School Officials Said About the Former Teacher’s Employment?
Fortinberry worked as a substitute teacher for Martinsville’s Metropolitan School District (MSD) until January 9, 2025, when her employment ended. Prior to that, she taught at Eminence High School in Morgan County until August 23, 2024, where several of her alleged victims were students.
The Metropolitan School District of Martinsville released a statement saying they were “notified of serious allegations against a former employee” and are “fully cooperating with law enforcement.” They emphasized that during Fortinberry’s employment period, “there were no identified reports of sexual misconduct to the administration or the anonymous tip line” and confirmed that the district “conducts a full criminal background check for all new employees, as part of the standard hiring procedures.” School officials continue to work with investigators as the case proceeds.
What Details Have Emerged About the Alleged Incidents?
According to investigators, in one case, Fortinberry allegedly purchased $600 worth of items for a group of teens before making them don the Ghostface masks from the “Scream” film franchise and engaging in sexual assault. Court documents indicate she allegedly provided drugs to the teens before forcing them to have sex. In one instance, she reportedly drugged a victim multiple times before assaulting him. The court documents reveal that Fortinberry allegedly used Snapchat and the encrypted messaging app Session to send nude and explicit images to her victims. One victim recounted that she would wait for her own children to fall asleep before initiating sexual contact with the boys. Another claimed she assaulted him after asking him to babysit her kids. These disturbing details continue to emerge as more victims have come forward to cooperate with authorities.
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