Married Indiana Teacher Faces Heinous Charges of Sexual Abuse Involving Students and 'Scream' Masks

MARTINSVILLE, Ind. — In a case that has sent shockwaves through the small community of Martinsville, Indiana, a 31-year-old former school teacher, Brittany Fortinberry, stands accused of perpetrating a series of horrifying sexual crimes against her students. The allegations, detailed in court documents and affidavits obtained by local authorities, paint a chilling picture of abuse, manipulation, and exploitation involving at least 10 underage boys, some as young as 13. Among the most disturbing claims is that Fortinberry forced three boys to engage in a prolonged group sexual encounter while wearing masks from the horror movie "Scream," an act that has left parents, educators, and law enforcement reeling.

Fortinberry, a married woman and mother who once held a position of trust as a middle school math teacher at Eminence Community Schools and a substitute teacher in the Metropolitan School District of Martinsville, now faces a litany of charges. These include 10 counts of child molestation, eight counts of dissemination of matter harmful to minors, five counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and one count of sexual misconduct with a minor, with prosecutors recently filing to add dozens more charges as new victims come forward. The accusations, first reported in August 2024, have escalated in scope and severity, culminating in a case that has drawn national attention for its grotesque details and the sheer number of alleged victims.

A Pattern of Grooming and Abuse

The allegations against Fortinberry began to surface on August 22, 2024, when two students from Eminence High School reported to school officials that their teacher had sent them inappropriate messages and explicit videos via Instagram. The content allegedly included images of sex toys and a stripper pole installed in her Martinsville home, as well as nude depictions of herself. The school district acted swiftly, suspending Fortinberry that same night and reporting the matter to the Indiana Department of Child Services and local law enforcement. By the following morning, Fortinberry had submitted her resignation, effectively ending her brief tenure at Eminence, which had begun on July 10, 2024.

However, the initial reports were merely the tip of the iceberg. In December 2024, a grandmother approached the Morgan County Sheriff's Office with a far more alarming account. She claimed that her 15-year-old grandson had been repeatedly molested by Fortinberry in October 2023, during a period when she was employed as a substitute teacher in Martinsville. The boy, now 16, told investigators that Fortinberry had groomed him with gifts and attention, sent him nude photos via Snapchat, and assaulted him multiple times after providing him with drugs, including psychedelic mushrooms. He recounted instances where she bragged about her past as a stripper and pressured him into sexual acts, growing angry if he resisted.

As the investigation deepened, more victims emerged, each with stories that echoed a disturbing pattern of manipulation and coercion. One 13-year-old boy, whose account is detailed in a probable cause affidavit, described how Fortinberry showered him with affection and material rewards. “She would always make him food and would buy him anything he wanted, including vapes, weed, and THC carts,” the affidavit states. These gifts, however, came with a sinister price. The boy alleged that Fortinberry would drug him and his friends with mushrooms, then instruct them to touch her sexually. “Brittany would peer pressure them if they didn’t want to take the shrooms,” the affidavit continues. “Brittany would grab their arm, she would say, ‘just let it happen.’”

The 'Scream' Mask Incident

Perhaps the most shocking accusation centers on an incident in which Fortinberry allegedly orchestrated a marathon group sexual encounter with three underage boys. According to the affidavit, she invited the boys to spend the night at her home, where she imposed a bizarre and macabre condition. “Brittany had one condition for them to have the gangbang with her, and that was that they had to wear a Scream mask to f**k her,” the document alleges. The reference is to the iconic Ghostface mask from the "Scream" horror franchise, a detail that has amplified the case’s unsettling nature.

The boy, who was 13 at the time, claimed that Fortinberry picked him and two friends up from a local mall and brought them to her residence. There, she allegedly plied them with drugs—mushrooms, marijuana, and a liquid he suspected was alcohol—before forcing them into the act. He described how she directed the encounter, insisting on the masks as part of her twisted fantasy. Another victim corroborated this account, alleging that Fortinberry spent $600 on gifts for the group beforehand, further manipulating them into compliance. She reportedly threatened to kill herself if they reported the abuse, a tactic she allegedly used repeatedly to silence her victims.

A Husband’s Alleged Complicity

Adding another layer of complexity to the case, Fortinberry’s husband, Nicholas Fortinberry, has been implicated as an accessory. One victim’s mother informed detectives that Nicholas was aware of his wife’s actions and had threatened to “slaughter” her son “in front of his family” if he spoke out. The boy involved in the 'Scream' mask incident similarly claimed that Nicholas warned them to keep quiet, saying he would kill them if they disclosed the abuse. Nicholas Fortinberry has since been charged with intimidation and failure to report, raising questions about the extent of his involvement and the dynamics within the couple’s household.

Investigators have noted that Fortinberry allegedly assaulted one boy while he was babysitting her own children, putting them to bed before turning her attention to her victim. This detail has horrified the community, as it suggests a calculated betrayal of both her familial and professional responsibilities.

Fortinberry’s Bizarre Defense

In a statement to police following her arrest, Fortinberry offered a peculiar rationale for her actions. She reportedly expressed regret—not for the alleged crimes, but for losing 150 pounds. “She said she regretted the day she lost weight because if she was still 150 pounds heavier, she would never have run into any problems,” an officer recounted, as reported by Fox59. This bizarre claim has baffled authorities and the public alike, with some interpreting it as an attempt to deflect responsibility onto her physical transformation rather than her choices.

Fortinberry’s alleged use of drugs, money, and emotional manipulation to groom her victims underscores the predatory nature of her actions. Victims reported that she paid them between $100 and $800 for nude photos, sent explicit content via Snapchat and the app Session, and used threats of suicide to maintain their silence. One boy told police that if they refused her advances, she would force them to watch her with others who complied, saying, “Just let it happen.”

Legal and Community Fallout

The Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the Department of Child Services, has continued to uncover additional victims, with estimates suggesting that between five and ten boys may have been targeted. Prosecutors have moved to increase Fortinberry’s bond from $20,000 to $150,000, reflecting the gravity of the charges and the risk she poses. Her jury trial is scheduled for June 25, 2025, though legal experts anticipate further delays as the case grows in complexity.

Eminence Community Schools and the Metropolitan School District of Martinsville have issued statements condemning Fortinberry’s actions and emphasizing their commitment to student safety. “The night of August 22, 2024, a report was made to the School Corporation that an employee, Brittany Fortinberry, had engaged in inappropriate conduct toward two students,” Eminence officials said. “School Administration immediately reported this information to the Indiana Department of Child Services and local law enforcement.” Martinsville’s district similarly noted its full cooperation with authorities.

The community of Martinsville, a quiet town 35 miles southwest of Indianapolis, has been left grappling with the fallout. Parents have expressed outrage and betrayal, with one victim’s grandmother telling WTHR, “It’s just bizarre—you come to a school, see a teacher, and you’re supposed to be able to trust them.” The case has sparked broader conversations about teacher accountability, student safety protocols, and the mechanisms that allowed Fortinberry’s alleged behavior to persist undetected.

A Case That Defies Comprehension

As the investigation continues, the full scope of Brittany Fortinberry’s alleged crimes remains under scrutiny. With up to 262 years in prison possible if convicted on all counts, her fate rests in the hands of the judicial system. For now, the focus remains on the victims—young boys whose trust was shattered by a woman they once saw as an authority figure. Their courage in coming forward has exposed a nightmare hidden behind the facade of a small-town classroom, one that will linger in the collective memory of Martinsville for years to come.

17GEN4.com