Aliquippa chief pulls officers from homicide investigation

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Aliquippa police no longer are involved in investigating the murder of a teacher last month, the acting chief decided Wednesday.

“I made that decision yesterday. I just think it’s the best move right now,” acting Chief Robert Sealock said Thursday without elaborating.

Detectives from the Beaver County District Attorney’s Office will continue to lead the investigation.

The chief declined to provide a specific reason for pulling his detectives and referred to an open letter he drafted.

That four-paragraph statement does not give any explanation beyond saying the chief was “recusing” the department from investigating the May 13 shooting of Rachael DelTondo, 33, in the driveway of the Aliquippa home she shared with her parents.

“Moving forward, I will make myself available and provide information and assistance to any and all agencies in the proactive investigation of this troubling and senseless crime,” his letter states. “I have full confidence that the investigating agencies will unravel this crime and will prevail in bringing the guilty culprit or culprits to justice.”

Ms. DelTondo, who had been suspended from her job as an elementary-level teacher with the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, was shot multiple times at close range. She was alone when she was killed, police said.

The investigation has led police to execute numerous search warrants, mine Facebook data and phone records, and look into Ms.