A former substitute school teacher accused of having a sexual encounter with a student in a Minnesota classroom earlier this year is now the focus of a nationwide search, reported the Minneapolis Star Tribune on Friday.
Court documents reveal that Caitlin Thao, the 24-year-old former substitute teacher, confessed to a social worker at a mental health facility that she had engaged in a sexual encounter with a 17-year-old male student.
Thao, who had resigned from her position at a St. Paul charter school in February, went into hiding after being charged with criminal sexual conduct last week, according to the report.
The Star Tribune disclosed that, based on a criminal complaint, the student informed police on March 13 that he and Thao had a sexual encounter around six weeks prior in an empty middle school classroom at St. Paul City School.
After the encounter, Thao allegedly extended an invitation to the student to visit her home, an offer he claims to have declined. There were no further communications between the student and Thao reported in the court documents.
The incident came to light when Thao was a patient at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, where she disclosed the event to a social worker.
Last week, she was indicted on third-degree criminal sexual conduct charges in the Ramsey County District Court, according to the Star Tribune.
Thao is facing a potential penalty of up to 15 years in prison and a $30,000 fine. Following these charges, Thao disappeared and has not been located since, leading to a nationwide warrant being issued for her arrest.
Efforts to find Thao had been unsuccessful as of Monday.
Female substitute teacher goes on the run after she was accused of having sex with boy, 17, in an empty classroom https://t.co/TzAqa7Tye7 pic.twitter.com/yWzA7UYwrE
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) May 11, 2024
Eric Fergen, the interim executive director of St. Paul City School, informed faculty, staff, and student families about the allegations in a letter sent on Friday, as reported by the Star Tribune.
Fergen stated that the inappropriate encounter took place outside of school hours. When approached for further comments on Friday, he remarked that Thao has not been employed with the school for several months.
Fergen’s letter aimed to keep the school community informed about the situation and ensure transparency regarding the incident, emphasizing the school’s commitment to student safety.
Why all the hysteria? Young boys have had crushes on teachers for decades. Even I had a Ms Fox, her real name, that I fantasized about when I was in junior high school. She kept me going to her class and never being late.
This is where common sense should be a driving force. Did she traumatize the student? If not, she should never be charged. This is different for girls. They are more susceptible and usually fall in love with a mate before sex. With boys, it is entirely different. They have no emotional ties and to most boys, it’s just having sex. Ergo, they aren’t harmed except for the ranting and raving of school officials and politicians who have forgotten their younger days.
Let this woman/teacher live in peace.
she can come to visit me anytime, i won’t say no.