A former teacher has been accused of exploiting her position to commit unspeakable acts against her students. Brittany Fortinberry, a 31-year-old retired math teacher at Eminence High School allegedly used horror film imagery to carry out her crimes. The case has not only horrified the community but also raised urgent questions about the safety of students in educational institutions.
The allegations against Fortinberry are surreal and unsettling. She allegedly compelled boys who were 13 to have sex while forcing them to wear “Ghostface” masks that were inspired by the Scream horror franchise. The acts were said to have taken place in 2024 and involved a series of manipulative and predatory behavior.
The case was discovered in August 2024 after a concerned relative reported suspicious behavior with a 15-year-old boy. Currently, five more victims have come forward as victims of her offenses, and the scope of the investigation has been expanded.
According to court documents, the abuse began when one of the victims was drugged repeatedly. Afterward, Fortinberry reportedly assaulted him, a violation that would haunt him for years. It gets even more chilling: the victim claimed she invited friends over to her home, where they were given drugs and subjected to sexual abuse.
Fortinberry is accused of bringing boys to her residence, administering drugs to them, and then having sex after she has put her children to bed. Such claims have been substantiated by evidence at her residence in the way of sex toys and a stripper’s pole.
Fortinberry’s manipulative tactics did not stop there. After her initial arrest, she allegedly contacted one of her victims, trying to influence him further. Her threats were terrifying. Victims claimed she warned them that she would take her own life if they spoke out about the abuse.
Prosecutors indicate that Fortinberry employed gifts and money—purchasing as much as $600 worth of gifts and offering some victims $100 to $800 to send her explicit photos—along with threats to harm herself if she were reported to her parents or to authorities to maintain control over her victims.
She reportedly sent nude photos and explicit videos to her victims via Snapchat and an app called Session. When some boys expressed their reluctance to participate, she allegedly coerced them into compliance.
One victim recounted how Fortinberry would put her own children to bed before attempting to assault him. This shocking revelation adds another layer of horror to the story, showcasing how she balanced her life as a mother with her predatory behavior.
As the news broke, parents and community members were left grappling with disbelief. How could someone entrusted with the education of children engage in such heinous acts? One of the victim’s parents even reported to the police that Fortinberry’s husband was aware of the abuse and had made threats against one of the victims.
Fortinberry’s situation worsened as prosecutors slapped her with additional charges. These include 10 counts of child molestation, 8 counts of distributing obscene material to minors, and 5 counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. This escalation underscores the severity of her actions and the impact on the lives of her victims.
While the case of Fortinberry is especially shocking due to horror film imagery, it is not unique. There has been a disturbing trend of teacher misconduct in recent years in Indiana.
School counselor Darrell Hughes of Muncie, Indiana, was indicted on counts of sexually exploiting youth under his care. Hughes targeted vulnerable at-risk youth in particular.
Fortinberry had previously explained her behavior as a result of extreme weight loss, but that excuse has not mitigated the gravity of her actions. As investigations continue, more victims have come forward, suggesting that the total number could be as high as ten.
Kelly Mosesso, a concerned parent whose child attended one of the affected schools, voiced her frustration:
“If communication fails at this level, it leaves our children vulnerable. How many other cases have gone unnoticed because no one connected the dots?”
Additional reports suggest that her husband, Nicholas Fortinberry, was likely an accomplice to her offenses by threatening to hurt one of her victims if he spoke out.
Another case with Darrell Hughes had police worried that other victims who had not yet reported their cases may still be out there—another sign that many such cases will never be discovered.
Indianapolis legislators and educators now call for additional safeguards to protect students. Senator Aaron Freeman emphasized that effective mechanisms must be in place to prevent those with questionable backgrounds from working in schools:
“We must ensure that those who have been entrusted with the education of our children are safe and trustworthy.”
Parents such as Mosesso call for improved communication between child protective services and education agencies. Otherwise, predators can take advantage of loopholes in the system.
The addition of horror movie symbolism to Fortinberry’s crimes adds another dimension of psychological manipulation to already gruesome events. It serves as a stark reminder that predators can capitalize on emotional weaknesses and pop culture references to continue to dominate their victims.
