A police officer who has been put on paid administrative leave reportedly argued with investigators at the scene of Rachael DelTondo’s murder.
DelTondo, a teacher who had been suspended following a news report about a possible relationship with a 17-year-old student, was shot to death in the driveway of her mother’s home in Pennsylvania on the night of May 13.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, DelTondo, 33, had been out for ice cream with her friend Lauren Watkins, 17, just before her death. Watkins is the daughter of Aliquippa police officer Kenneth Watkins, who has been put on paid leave from the department.
According to CBS News, sources said officer Watkins appeared at the murder scene and argued with investigators. The nature of the argument is not known.
Investigators have been very tight-lipped about the investigation, and have not named a suspect. But warrants obtained by local media show that authorities are seeking cell phone records and/or social media account information from Lauren Watkins, her mother Stephanie Watkins, and brothers Sheldon Jeter, 20, and Tyrie Jeter, 26. Police have also reportedly interviewed the brothers as well as Lauren Watkins.
Tyrie Jeter was with DelTondo and Watkins on the night of the murder. CBS News reports that his younger brother Sheldon, who is the former student at the center of the scandal that led to DelTondo’s suspension, texted with the group the night of May 13, asking if they had gone out for ice cream without him.
Both of the brothers have reportedly said they were romantically involved with DelTondo. Sheldon and DelTondo were found together in a parked car in February 2016, when Sheldon was just 17. DelTondo was not charged with any wrongdoing, but a source inside the police department reportedly leaked the police report of the incident to a local newspaper the next year. After the newspaper ran the story late last year, DelTondo was suspended from her teaching position at PA Cyber Charter School.
Sheldon and DelTondo have reportedly been involved in an on-again, off-again romantic relationship since that time and have remained friendly throughout.
Sources told CBS News that Lauren Watkins said she dropped DelTondo off at the home at 10:44 p.m. that Sunday night, and police received a report of shots fired at 10:48 p.m. Lauren reportedly said she did not see anything or anyone suspicious before she drove off, with Jeter in the car.
Her cell phone, and the phones belonging to the Jeter brothers, were reportedly sent to a private lab for analysis.
Investigators had previously characterized DelTondo’s murder as a “crime of passion,” but have not said anything further about a possible motive.