On May 12, 2025, Tasha Purnell, formerly known as Tasha Oliver, of Newark, Delaware, pleaded guilty to two counts of Rape Third Degree and one count of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child. The case was heard in the Superior Court of Delaware following an investigation by the Delaware State Police Troop 2 Criminal Investigations Unit into the rape of a child under the age of 16.
Attorney General Kathy Jennings commented on the case: “The sexual abuse of a child, in any case, is heinous. When that abuse comes from an adult, much less a person in a position of trust such as a principal or teacher whose entire purpose is to guide and protect children, it is absolutely unthinkable. The defendant will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. I am truly grateful to our prosecutors and the Delaware State Police for their excellent work on this case.”
Purnell, aged 41 at the time and then a teacher at Stanton Middle School, was found to have repeatedly sexually assaulted the victim between 2010 and 2014. She later served as principal at A.I Middle School from 2020 until her suspension and termination in September 2024. Authorities do not believe there are additional victims linked to this case. Sentencing is set for August.