Latest news with #Callaham
Sunday World
11-07-2025
- Sunday World
Ex-school teacher (33) charged after ‘prolonged pattern of abuse and grooming' of teen
Investigators said the victim decided to come forward after turning 18," following time spent processing the experience and trauma associated with the abuse' A former South Carolina teacher has been taken into custody following an alleged "prolonged and inappropriate" relationship with a teen. Nicole Ballew Callaham (33) turned herself in to the Anderson County Detention Center on Thursday, the Anderson County Sheriff's Office said. She has been charged with three counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Detectives say the charges stem from a "prolonged and inappropriate" relationship with a teenage boy that allegedly began in 2021 and continued for at least two years. Nicole Ballew Callaham News in 90 Seconds - July 11th Callaham, a teacher at the time, began 'grooming behaviour' with the boy in his early teen years, authorities said. The relationship intensified as she allegedly signed the student out of school, transported him to practices, and served as a supervisor for after-school activities. These repeated interactions allegedly led to a prolonged pattern of abuse, which was corroborated by search warrants and ongoing cooperation with the victim's family, according to authorities. The New York Post has reported that Callaham taught at Homeland Park Elementary School from 2017 until her resignation on May 21. 'The relationship intensified as she reportedly signed the student out of school, transported him to practices and served as a supervisor for after-school activities,' the sheriff's office said. 'These repeated interactions led to a prolonged pattern of abuse, which was corroborated by search warrants and ongoing cooperation with the victim's family.' Investigators said the victim decided to come forward after turning 18," following time spent processing the experience and trauma associated with the abuse'. In addition to the charges in Anderson County, the Greenville City Police Department has brought similar charges against Callaham. The alleged conduct extended into its jurisdiction when the boy attended school in Greenville. Callaham has resigned from Anderson School District Five. Authorities said she voluntarily surrendered herself on Thursday morning to the Anderson County Detention Center.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Yahoo
Former Elementary School Teacher, 33, Arrested After 'Inappropriate' and 'Prolonged' Relationship with 14-Year-Old: Police
A former elementary school teacher in Anderson County, S.C., was arrested and charged after being accused of having "an inappropriate and unlawful relationship with a 14-year-old male," police have said Nicole Ballew Callaham, 33, is facing multiple charges from both the Anderson County Sheriff's Office and the Greenville Police Department The suspect and the teenager's relationship "intensified as she reportedly signed the student out of school, transported him to practices, and served as a supervisor for after-school activities," the ACSO wrote on social mediaA former elementary school teacher in South Carolina has been arrested after having "an inappropriate and unlawful relationship with a 14-year-old male," authorities have said. On the morning of Thursday, July 10, former Anderson County teacher Nicole Ballew Callaham, 33, "voluntarily surrendered herself" and was "charged with three counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor," the Anderson County Sheriff's Office (ACSO) wrote in an Instagram post. Detectives determined that the former teacher "had a prolonged" relationship with the teen, and had allegedly "engaged in grooming behavior toward the boy during his early teenage years," the post stated. "An investigation initiated in May 2025 uncovered evidence that the misconduct began in 2021 and continued for at least two years with the then teenage boy," the sheriff's office wrote. The Greenville Police Department added in a separate post obtained by PEOPLE and shared on Facebook that "some of the alleged criminal activity had occurred within the jurisdiction of the City of Greenville." The police department confirmed that Callaham had previously worked as an elementary school teacher, writing, "The investigation revealed that Callaham engaged in an inappropriate and unlawful relationship with a 14-year-old male. Based on evidence collected, Greenville detectives obtained arrest warrants for multiple offenses committed within our jurisdiction." In addition to the ACSO's charges, the suspect has also been charged with eight counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor and four counts of unlawful conduct towards a child by the Greenville Police Department. The ACSO said on Instagram that the suspect and the teenager's relationship had "intensified as she reportedly signed the student out of school, transported him to practices, and served as a supervisor for after-school activities." "These repeated interactions led to a prolonged pattern of abuse, which was corroborated by search warrants and ongoing cooperation with the victim's family," the sheriff's office added. "According to investigators, the victim made the decision to come forward after turning 18, following time spent processing the experience and trauma associated with the abuse," the post stated. The sheriff's office also confirmed that a "parallel investigation is currently underway by the Clemson City Police Department." Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Callaham has since resigned from her teaching position "and Anderson School District Five is aware of the investigation and charges made by ACSO detectives," the post noted. Following Callaham's arraignment on the ACSO's charges, "she will be transported to the Greenville County Detention Center for charges filed by the Greenville Police Department," the police department wrote on Facebook. The Anderson County Sheriff's Office and Anderson School District Five didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information. The Greenville City Police Department didn't have any additional updates to share at this time. If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
Greeley teacher, mother murdered by estranged husband with child in car
GREELEY, Colo. (KDVR) — A Greeley special education teacher was killed at the hands of her estranged husband in a murder-suicide in March. Laura Ruben was inside her car, with her 2-year-old child in the backseat, when her husband opened fire and turned the gun on himself. The last conversation Jessica Callaham had with her sister, minutes before the murder, still haunts her. 'One of the first things she said is, 'I'm scared that he's going to do something,'' Callaham shared. Ruben was on the phone with police when her husband shot her to death, according to Greeley Police. The 40-year-old mother was described as caring, kind and compassionate. Community holding vigil, raising funds for teacher killed in Weld County crash 'She had such a big heart,' Callaham said. 'She's always just had a heart for special needs children'. It was that calling that brought her to Greeley one year ago to work with visually impaired students in School District 6. Ruben, her two daughters and her husband of 10 years made the cross-country trip to Colorado, eager for new beginnings. But Callaham says Ruben's husband struggled with mental illness for years 'She stayed around in hopes that he understood the severity of his mental health,' Callaham said. She shares that her sister did everything possible to support the man she vowed to love in sickness and in health by going to therapy, setting up medical appointments, admitting him, locking up pills and knives in the home and more. But over the last two years, the red flags grew louder and louder. 'Him starting to physically harm her, along with the verbal abuse, the psychological abuse and just outbursts. Very violent outbursts,' Callaham explained. It was an outburst in December that involved her husband destroying their home and putting the girls at risk that was the last straw for Ruben. Over the next few months, Ruben was determined to walk a new path. She enrolled at the University of Northern Colorado to earn a master's degree, filed for separation, rented a new apartment and was granted a temporary restraining order. 'Kelly Loving Act': Colorado lawmakers push for more transgender protections The Victim Services Unit covers 13 police departments in Weld County and works closely with Ruben. Coordinator Heather Wright and Advocate Specialist Faith Thompson connected Ruben with the vital resources to leave, start fresh and navigate the legal system. 'She was leaving him and at the end of the day, he decided to take her away from all of those wonderful people who love and supported her because she said I will not be with you anymore,' Wright said. 'As details were coming in on what exactly happened to Laura and her family that day my anxiety started to go up and up'. That day was March 17, 2025. The separated couple had a court hearing that morning where a judge implemented a more permanent restraining order and granted supervised visitation with the children, which Callaham said caused Ruben's husband to become agitated. While driving home, Ruben called her sister scared and said her husband was tailing her. 'I was the one that told her it's going to be okay,' Callaham cried. Ruben reached the parking lot of her apartment complex and was sitting in the front seat with her 2-year-old daughter in the backseat when she received a call from a Greeley Police officer in regard to her estranged husband violating the restraining order. All of a sudden, her husband appeared in the parking lot and Callaham says he blocked her car in. Ruben was trapped and still on the phone with the officer. 'They did an all-call. Witnesses said eight to 10 cop cars rushed in, but unfortunately, they just couldn't get to her fast enough,' Callaham recalled. With his daughter in the car, the 36-year-old man shot into Ruben's car multiple times, killing his wife and then shot himself, according to police. The toddler was not hurt. Denver police arrest off-road vehicle rider for a second time this spring 'To know that there wasn't a moment where he stopped to check for her, it haunts me,' Callaham cried. 'It's bad enough to leave your child without her parents, but to expose her to that'. Ruben's girls are now left in this world without a mother. Thompson and Wright responded to the crime scene to soothe the children and help the family navigate the unthinkable. 'Her family is absolutely amazing,' Wright said. 'They came into a horrible situation and always kept the girls and Laura at the forefront of every action that they did'. And that grace goes both ways. Callaham is praising the Greeley Police Department for ensuring her sister always felt heard and seen. 'I'm just tremendously thankful for the people of Greeley for taking care of her when I couldn't,' Callaham cried. Man who served 19 years for holding housekeeper captive resentenced, will be deported Although nothing will bring Ruben back, Callaham has a message for other women. 'Normalize that it's not our job to save other people. It's our job to save ourselves,' Callaham cried. 'It's something I wish my sister had grasped a little bit more … that he has to save himself and that she couldn't save him.' A judge has ruled that Ruben's daughters do get to stay together and the two are currently in Georgia with Callaham. However, it's going to be a long road with a lot of financial responsibilities. Callaham is working to set up college funds for both girls. If you'd like to donate, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
