Going on two weeks since the gangland style execution of a teacher in Aliquippa, Pa., the twisting and apparent circular shooting gallery of suspects is getting murkier, although local authorities started off with their sights set on Rachael DelTondo’s rumoured one time teenage paramour, Sheldon Jeter Jr.
The search for suspects has expanded from the initial target of 20-year-old Sheldon Jeter Jr. who reportedly, has been in an on and off relationship with the 33-year-old teacher since the age of 17, touching his two older brothers Tyrie Jeter 26, who was about town with the victim and another teen girl on the day of the shooting, then on to oldest sibling Rashawn Bolton, 31, who reportedly, had been in a relationship with DelTondo, since December, 2017.
Now CBS Pittsburgh reports that police in Aliquippa, Pa. are now looking into the version of events reported by one of the last people to see Rachael DelTondo alive.
17-year-old Lauren Watkins, [photo left], was a friend of 33-year-old DelTondo and was with her shortly before she was shot to death in her parents’ driveway on Mother’s Day.
Since then, police have retraced DelTondo’s steps and the movements of several of her friends, including Watkins.
Authorities have been examining Watkins’ cellphone.
Watkins, who admitted chauffeuring her friends around town on the day, told police that she and DelTondo drove around town together the afternoon before the murder, stopping at a Circle K convenience store.
Watkins reportedly told police she later took DelTondo home so she could change clothes. Then, the two picked up their friend, Tyrie Jeter, and traveled to Hank’s Frozen Custard in New Brighton for ice cream.
She later dropped off DelTondo back at her parents’ home around 10:44 p.m. and reported seeing no one suspicious before she left to drop off Jeter, according to her statement.
At 10:48 p.m., police received a report of shots fired, and responding officers found DelTondo dead in the driveway.
Lauren Watkins told police she did not see DelTondo’s assailant or hear gunshots.
Her father showed up at the crime scene and reportedly argued with other police officers.
The third person on the ride and ice cream junket on May 13 is Tyrie Jeter, 26, is the older brother of 20-year-old Sheldon Jeter. Significantly, Sheldon is reported to have had an on-again-off-again romantic relationship with DelTondo since he was 17. DelTondo’s teaching career came to a halt when reports of that relationship surfaced six months ago. The teacher denied their liaison was of a romantic nature,but her mother in a recent interview affirmed that the 20-year -old had expressed a desire to marry her daughter and she [the mom], had responded that it would not be happening.
Sheldon Jeter is reported to have texted with the group, including DelTondo, his brother and Watkins in the hours before the murder about whether they had gone to the ice cream shop without him.
Lauren Watkins [right], drove around with Rachael DelTondo [left], on the day and was the last person to see her alive. Watkins told police she didn’t see the shooter[s] who felled her friend, four minutes after she dropped off DelTondo on Mother’e Day
Police began investigations with their sights allegedly set on Sheldon, o questioned him and seized his cellphone and some of his clothing.The cellphones of Watkins and the Jeter brothers have been sent to a private lab for analysis.
His attorney has repeatedly told reporters that Jeter had nothing to do with DelTondo’s murder.
Lauren Watkins is the daughter of Aliquippa police officer Kenneth Watkins, who sources say, showed up at the scene the night of the murder and argued with investigators. Since then, he has been put on paid administrative leave.
20-year-old Sheldon Jeter [right] expressed the desire to marry Rachael DelTondo [left], 33, according to the victim’s mom
But in yet another twist, police have also executed two new search warrants on the Facebook pages of Lauren Watkins, and her mother, Stephanie Watkins.
Her daughter Lauren Watkins, dropped DelTondo off at her home that night. She is also the wife of Aliquippa Police Sergeant Kenneth Watkins, who is on administrative leave during the investigation.
The reason for the Facebook search warrant is unclear.
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