Authorities believe there may be more victims
A woman in Tennessee has been arrested for giving high school students vape pens in exchange for sex.
Melissa Blair, 38, was arrested on Tuesday (February 15) and charged with 18 counts of statutory rape, four counts of human trafficking by patronising prostitution, solicitation of a minor and forfeiture of personal property.
McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy said there are at least nine confirmed male victims, all aged between 14 and 17.
All of the incidents took place between spring 2020 to late 2021 among students at McMinn Central High School in the town of Englewood.
Authorities have said they believe there could be more victims.
Englewood is a town of just 1,500 residents – and Blair’s crimes have left the area shocked.
“We are devastated at this point,” a mother of one of the victims, who asked to remain anonymous, told Channel 9.
“I cannot in words describe what it feels like to be going through what we’re going through right now. It is every emotion that you can imagine. And none of them happy.
“People focus mostly on the perpetrator,” she continued.
“They don’t realise how it devastates a family. How the families are at home, and we don’t know what to do next. I have no idea how to go forward with this.”
NEW:
I spoke with a mother of one of the victims who told us:“We are devastated at this point. I cannot in words describe what it feels like to be going through what we’re going through right now. It is every emotion that you can imagine. And none of them happy.”
— Eric Benninghoff (@EricBenninghoff) February 16, 2022
Meanwhile, Englewood resident Christie Teague told the station: “Parents need to talk to their kids to speak up because it’s not right. It’s just really, really not right.
“I would be livid if it happened to my kids,” she added.
Blair didn’t work at the school in question but was involved in its booster club.
She is now banned from school property and school activities.
Related links:
- Teacher laced schoolchildren’s cupcakes with husband’s sperm
- Man cuts off older man’s leg with buzzsaw after shocking ‘arrangement’
- Joe Rogan podcast sparks new controversy with child sex abuse comments
