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Jennilynne M. Derolf, 38, was charged on July 15 with felony counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor, and related charges, according to the Falls Township Police Department and Bucks County District Attorney's Office.
An investigation into Derolf began on July 13 when the victim's grandmother told Falls Township officers that she discovered her grandson was having a sexual relationship with his teacher's aide at Valley Day School on Allendale Drive, authorities said.
The boy told detectives that the relationship began with them messaging each other discreetly on a cellphone messaging app and then meeting at Falls Township Park, police said.
In early June, their meetings became romantic, he added.
The boy said they had sexual intercourse three times in July, twice in the area of the Levittown Lake in Tullytown Borough, and once near a baseball field in Bristol Township, authorities said.
She was initially sent to Bucks County Correctional Facility on 10 percent of $900,000 bail. That bail was then reduced to 10 percent of $100,000, which she posted on July 23, court records show.
Nearly a month later, on Aug. 22, the family of the 14-year-old boy told police they found out that she had contacted him and arranged to meet, authorities said.
When officers arrived at Bristol Pike and Wheatsheaf Lane, Derolf shot herself with a firearm, Falls Township police chief Nelson Whitney said. She died by suicide.
The boy was not injured.
The circumstances surrounding the incident were not made public as they are still under investigation.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact FTPD Detective Matthew Tomcho at 215-949-9100 ext: 347 or at m.tomcho@fallstwp.com
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