On a quiet Mother's Day evening in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, the life of 33-year-old female teacher Rachel delTondo came to a violent and tragic end. On May 13, 2018, just moments after being dropped off at her parents' home after getting ice cream with a friend, she was shot multiple times in the driveway. The brutal nature of the crime, with at least 10 shots fired at close range, immediately suggested a targeted killing, plunging the small city into a mystery that would attract national attention.
The investigation that followed quickly focused on two men in delTondo's life. One was her ex-fiancé, Frank Catroppa, with whom she had ended a long-term relationship just months before her death. Catroppa was questioned by police but provided an alibi that appeared to satisfy investigators, and he was publicly cleared. The other prominent figure was Sheldon Jeter Jr., a then-20-year-old former high school football star with whom delTondo had a complicated and reportedly on-and-off relationship. This relationship had previously drawn scrutiny when a leaked police report revealed delTondo had been found with a then-17-year-old Jeter in a parked car, an incident that led to her suspension from her teaching job.
Years have passed since Rachel delTondo's murder, and while no one has ever been charged in her death, authorities have been clear about who they believe is responsible. In August 2023, the Beaver County District Attorney officially named Sheldon Jeter Jr. the prime suspect. Investigators pointed to a strong circumstantial case that included GPS and surveillance camera evidence suggesting Jeter had stalked delTondo before her murder. However, the district attorney admitted there was not enough evidence to make an arrest, specifically noting they could not place him in the driveway at the moment of the shooting. Jeter has consistently maintained his innocence through his attorney.
Adding another layer to the complex case, Sheldon Jeter Jr. is currently serving a life sentence for a different murder. In May 2020, almost two years to the day after delTondo was killed, Jeter was arrested for the fatal shooting of his close friend, Tyric Pugh. He was convicted of first-degree murder in that case in 2021. The legal proceedings for Jeter continue, as his conviction in the Pugh murder is facing an appeal based on claims of juror misconduct. Meanwhile, Frank Catroppa has also faced legal issues, having been arrested in September 2024 on charges of strangulation and assault related to a domestic violence incident involving a different woman. The murder of Rachel delTondo remains officially unsolved, leaving her family and community still waiting for justice.
