Indiana Teacher Faces 30 Counts of Child Sex Crimes Amid Shocking Allegations

Martinsville, Indiana — March 26, 2025 A former Indiana high school teacher, Brittany Fortinberry, 31, is at the center of a disturbing criminal case that has rocked the small community of Martinsville and drawn national attention. Fortinberry, a married mother of four and once a respected substitute educator, now faces 30 counts of child sex crimes, including child molestation, sexual misconduct with a minor, and dissemination of matter harmful to minors. The allegations against her paint a chilling picture of predatory behavior, with prosecutors accusing her of drugging and sexually assaulting boys as young as 13, some of whom were allegedly forced to wear "Scream" masks during group sexual encounters.

Adding to the horror, new claims have emerged suggesting that Fortinberry’s own children may have been exposed to her alleged crimes, and rumors are swirling about an inappropriate relationship with her adopted son.

The case, which has unfolded over the past several months, has left parents, educators, and law enforcement grappling with the scale of the accusations and the betrayal of trust by someone in a position of authority. Fortinberry’s arrest last month marked the beginning of a legal saga that has only grown more complex as additional victims have come forward, bolstered by a Department of Child Services investigation that prompted further disclosures. As of today, she remains behind bars at the Morgan County Jail, facing a potential sentence of over 200 years if convicted on all charges.

According to court documents and statements from alleged victims, Fortinberry’s actions spanned at least two years, from 2023 to 2024, during her tenure as a substitute teacher at Martinsville Schools and later at Eminence High School in Morgan County. Prosecutors allege that she targeted vulnerable teenage boys, many of whom were friends of her own son, using a combination of gifts, drugs, and manipulation to lure them into her home. Once there, the boys were allegedly subjected to horrific sexual abuse, often under the influence of substances like psychedelic mushrooms, which Fortinberry is accused of hiding in peanut butter sandwiches to mask the taste.

One of the most shocking allegations involves Fortinberry orchestrating group sexual encounters, or "gangbangs," with the minors. In a particularly bizarre twist, she reportedly insisted that the boys wear Ghostface masks from the popular horror movie franchise "Scream" during these acts. One victim, who was 13 at the time, told investigators that Fortinberry spent $600 on items for him and his friends before taking them to her home, where the abuse occurred. "Brittany had one condition for them to have the gangbang with her, and that was that they had to wear a Scream mask," a police affidavit states. The boy recounted how Fortinberry pressured them into compliance, allegedly saying, “Just let it happen,” when they hesitated.

The affidavit also details how Fortinberry used social media platforms like Snapchat to send explicit photos and videos to her victims, further grooming them and maintaining contact even after her initial arrest in February 2025. Another victim claimed she offered between $100 and $800 for nude photos of their genitals, a tactic prosecutors say was part of her broader pattern of exploitation.

Perhaps the most gut-wrenching aspect of the case involves the alleged presence of Fortinberry’s own children during some of these incidents. One boy, whose identity is protected due to his age, told police that Fortinberry’s young son was in the room while she engaged in sexual acts with him. “One of her sons was in the room at the end of the bed on a couch,” the boy said, according to a probable cause affidavit from Morgan County Sheriff’s Office Detective Sergeant Patrick Williams. “Brittany’s son really wanted to stay in the room with them… he laid on the couch with Brittany’s son while they watched a show, and when her son fell asleep, he got in bed with Brittany.”

The boy’s account suggests a chilling disregard for boundaries, with Fortinberry allegedly proceeding with the assault despite her child’s proximity. “It freaked him [Brittany’s son] out, and Brittany didn’t care,” the affidavit continues. This revelation has raised serious questions about the environment in Fortinberry’s home, where police reportedly found a stripper pole and sex toys—items the victims had previously described in messages she sent them.

Adding another layer of complexity to the case are rumors that Fortinberry may have been involved in an inappropriate relationship with her adopted son. A separate victim told investigators, “There were rumors that Brittany had adopted and she was having a relationship with him.” The boy noted that Fortinberry encouraged him to connect with her son on Snapchat, possibly as a means of drawing him closer to her family dynamic. While these claims remain unverified and are not yet part of the formal charges, they have fueled public outrage and speculation about the full extent of Fortinberry’s alleged misconduct.

Legal experts caution that such rumors, while inflammatory, must be substantiated with evidence before they can be considered in court. Nonetheless, the mere suggestion has intensified the perception of Fortinberry as a deeply troubled individual whose actions may have impacted not only her students but also her own household.

Fortinberry’s husband, Nicholas Fortinberry, has also been drawn into the legal fray, facing charges of intimidation and failure to report a crime. Victims allege that Nicholas was aware of his wife’s actions and actively worked to silence them. One boy claimed that Nicholas threatened to “slaughter” him in front of his family if he spoke out, while another said Nicholas instructed them to wait until they were 16 before reporting anything. “Brittany’s husband knew about the things that were going on,” the boy’s affidavit reads. “He talked to them about not telling anybody and if they did, he would kill them in front of their family.”

Nicholas filed for divorce from Brittany in February 2025, seeking temporary custody of their four-year-old child, according to court records. His legal troubles, however, have complicated his position, and authorities are investigating the extent of his involvement or complicity in the alleged abuse.

Fortinberry’s teaching career began as a substitute at Martinsville Schools, where she was fired on January 9, 2024, for reasons unrelated to the sexual misconduct allegations. She then moved to Eminence High School, where she taught several of her alleged victims until resigning on August 23, 2024, just one day after the first accusations surfaced. The swift resignation came after two students reported receiving inappropriate Instagram messages from her, including videos of her sex toys and stripper pole, prompting an immediate suspension and a report to the Indiana Department of Child Services.

The Indianapolis law firm Wagner Reese, LLP, representing one of the victims’ families, has announced plans to sue Martinsville Schools, arguing that the district should have recognized Fortinberry as a sexual predator during her employment. The firm claims that at least 10 boys, aged 13 to 16, were abused by Fortinberry, and it anticipates more families may join the potential lawsuit. “The trauma, mental anguish, and emotional distress caused by Fortinberry’s mistreatment and abuse of their son are immeasurable,” the firm stated in a notice of claim.

In a bizarre twist, Fortinberry has reportedly attributed her alleged behavior to her dramatic weight loss. According to court documents, she told police that if she had remained 150 pounds heavier, she “wouldn’t have run into any problems.” This statement, which she made during an earlier investigation in February 2025, has been met with disbelief and condemnation by victims’ families and the public alike. Critics argue that it reflects a refusal to take accountability for her actions, instead deflecting blame onto a physical transformation.

Fortinberry’s bond has been increased from $20,000 to $150,000 as the number of charges has ballooned from an initial five to 30. 17GEN4.com