Multiple rape charges have been brought against the woman
To most of her neighbors in Englewood, Tennessee, Melissa Blair appeared to be a typical suburban mother, but the 38-year-old spent nearly two years living a secret life that's now unraveling.
Blair is now in prison for multiple rape charges after she allegedly traded "gifts" such as vape pens for sexual favours with nine underage high school boys.
A grand jury indicted the mother last month in McMinn County, Tennessee — the full list of charges were serious and wide-ranging including 18 counts of aggravated statutory rape, four counts of human trafficking by patronising prostitution, and one count of solicitation of a minor.
Though specifics about each of the charges were not revealed, investigators said that Blair traded "gifts" and other items such as vape pens for "sexual favours" with victims who ranged in age from 14 to 17.
All of her victims attended McMinn Central High School at the time — where one of Blair's own children is also a student.
Believed to have gained access to the teens through social media, Blair as also active in the school community, volunteering for events and activities.
The investigation began December 9, 2021, after police received a tip off from the Tennessee Department of Children's Services. A source claimed that Blair had been having "sexual encounters" with underaged male students at McMinn Central High School.
Through a series of police interviews, the McMinn County Sheriff's Office was able to corroborate the claim and uncover additional victims. On December 15th, detectives first questioned Blair and a search warrant was issued for her home. That search revealed a lot of additional evidence.
Blair was finally indicted on on February 15th and she is not officially banned from school property or any school activities in or around McMinn County Schools.
She was released on a $100,000 bond.
One of the victims' mothers, who wished to remain anonymous, told a local news channel that her entire family has been left "devastated" by what happened to her son: "I cannot in words describe what it feels like to be going through what we're going through right now. It is every emotion that you can imagine. And none of them happy."
"People focus mostly on the perpetrator," she added, but "they don't realize how it devastates a family. How the families are at home, and we don't know what to do next.
"I have no idea how to go forward with this."
A date for trial has not yet been confirmed.
