Former special education teacher extradited to Delaware to face 20 rape charges

A former special education teacher in Delaware was arrested and faces 20 charges of rape.

Reed Messer, 42, was charged with two counts of sexual abuse of a child by a person of trust, 10 counts of third-degree rape, and 10 counts of fourth-degree rape. Messer – who now lives in Greenville, South Carolina – was extradited to Delaware on Monday.

On Dec. 23, 2022, the Delaware State Police Criminal Investigations Unit received a report from the Delaware Division of Family Services that Messer had a sexual relationship that lasted approximately two months with a juvenile student nearly nine years earlier, according to Fox News. The child sex crimes allegedly happened in October 2014 when Messer was a teacher at the Stanton Middle School in Wilmington, Delaware.

Following an investigation, Delaware authorities informed police in South Carolina – who secured an arrest warrant for Messer on April 26. South Carolina police officers arrested Messer at her Greenville home.

After moving to South Carolina, Messer was hired by Legacy Early College – a charter school in Greenville. She was employed at the school from July 2018 until she was fired in January following an internal investigation.

The Legacy Early College released a statement following Messer’s arrest:

Reed Messer was a Special Education teacher with Legacy Early College from July 23, 2018 until January 31, 2023. After the school was informed that she was the subject of a criminal investigation in Delaware, she was placed on administrative leave and was subsequently terminated upon the conclusion of an internal investigation. The safety of our scholars is always the highest priority in our school. If you have any concerns or questions related to this matter please contact Katie Summersett, the school’s HR officer.

CBS News reported, "The South Carolina Department of Education's website indicates that Messer was first certified as a teacher in that state in July 2015 for elementary and early childhood education, middle level language arts, English, and special education."

Messer purportedly received a literacy specialist endorsement in November.

However, the South Carolina Department of Education states that Messer is suspended because of "her arrest for 22 counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor."

"The SCDE has reason to believe that, due to the serious nature of these allegations of misconduct, Ms. Messer may pose a threat to the health, safety, and welfare of students, who may be under her instruction and that emergency action is required," the website reads.

Messer is being held at the Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution with a bond set at $310,000 cash.

Police said the investigation is ongoing.

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