Elgin mom might have used nude photos of teen to mend breakup

Police are investigating whether an Elgin woman used nude photos of her daughter's 13-year-old ex-boyfriend as blackmail to get the two back together.

No charges have been filed, but police confirmed Monday they are actively pursuing counts of intimidation, harassment and child pornography possession in the case that originated in Sleepy Hollow.

"It's a sad and surprising situation," Sleepy Hollow Police Chief Jim Montalbano said. "We expect charges will be filed, hopefully by next week."

It's the Daily Herald's policy not to publish names of people under investigation until they are charged or about to be charged with a crime.

The probe began Aug. 21 when a couple from Sleepy Hollow reported to police that their son received hundreds of threatening e-mails and text messages after the boy and his 13-year-old girlfriend of five months broke up, according to an officer's sworn affidavit.

The parents told police their son admitted he and the girl had taken naked photos of themselves while dating, sharing them with each other with their cell phones, but the pictures of the girl no longer exist.

The parents said that after the breakup the girl's mother told the boy she'd tell his parents about the images of him and post them online unless the youngsters started seeing each other again.

In another tactic, the mother set up an e-mail account the boy could use to contact her daughter without his parents knowing, according to an officer's sworn affidavit.

But the boy did not give in, and he refused to let the woman "ruin his life by telling his mother."

On Monday, Montalbano said authorities believe the photos did wind up on Internet sites, although that aspect of the case remains under investigation. He said forensic investigators from Kane and Cook counties, as well as Aurora, are assisting local police in examining dozens of cell phones, computers and CDs seized from the girl's home and school in late September.

"We've been able to freeze (phone and e-mail) accounts so nothing gets destroyed," Montalbano said. "It's going through forensics right now."

According to court documents, the boy's parents personally tried to resolve the situation with the other family in August, but the harassment continued.

Montalbano said the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services has been notified of the situation. The children are not under investigation for any criminal activity, he said.

Threat: Charges expected to be filed 'by next week'