Crime Fix with Angenette Levy - Ohio Teacher Grilled About Sex With Female Student

Episode Date: January 8, 2026

Former Shelby Middle School teacher Stefanie Kellenbeger was brought in for questioning in 2024 after a former female student of hers made allegations that she'd had a sexual relationship with her. The student had been hired to baby sit for Kellenberger's daughter during COVID. Kellenberger is now serving 15 years in prison for the crimes. Law&Crime's Angenette Levy goes through the interview with detectives in Richland County, Ohio in this episode of Crime Fix — a daily show covering the biggest stories in crime.PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW:If you’re ever injured in an accident, you can check out Morgan & Morgan. You can submit a claim in 8 clicks or less without having to leave your couch. To start your claim, visit: https://www.forthepeople.com/CrimeFixHost:Angenette Levy  https://twitter.com/Angenette5CRIME FIX PRODUCTION:Head of Social Media, YouTube - Bobby SzokeSocial Media Management - Vanessa BeinVideo Editing - Daniel CamachoGuest Booking - Alyssa Fisher & Diane KayeSTAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LAW&CRIME NETWORK:Watch Law&Crime Network on YouTubeTV: https://bit.ly/3td2e3yWhere To Watch Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3akxLK5Sign Up For Law&Crime's Daily Newsletter: https://bit.ly/LawandCrimeNewsletterRead Fascinating Articles From Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3td2IqoLAW&CRIME NETWORK SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawandcrime/Twitter: https://twitter.com/LawCrimeNetworkFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lawandcrimeTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/lawandcrimenetworkTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lawandcrimeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wonderly Plus subscribers can binge all episodes of this Law and Crimes series ad-free right now. Join Wonderly Plus in the Wondery app Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And she got close with my whole family. I mean, she was like part of our family. Detectives grill a teacher about her relationship with her babysitter that's way too close for comfort. Where she's staying, basically what you're telling me, living in the house. Right. During that period of time where you and her started a sexual relationship together.

She and I did? Correct. I take you inside the interview room with detectives and Stephanie Kellenberger, and I'll tell you what happened with her case. Welcome to Crime Fix. I'm Ann Janette Levy. I have another female teacher to tell you about, can you believe it? It seems like it never ends.

This one is out of Ohio, and she's doing serious time in prison for having a sexual relationship with a student who is babysitting her daughter. At first, Stephanie Kellenberger denied she did anything inappropriate with the female student. But she would later admit to all of it, pleading guilty this past year to four counts of sexual battery and 17 counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. All of those are third degree felonies. Kellenberger lived in Richland County, Ohio, that's in northern Ohio, south of Lake Erie, and between Toledo and Cleveland. On February 28, 2024, detectives brought Stephanie Kellenberger in for a little chat. The detectives had already spoken to Kellenberger at her home, so this was actually

round two, and they started out with some small talk. Yeah, in Lexington. Okay. Where'd you go to college at? Capital. Okay. Down Columbus? Mm-hmm. Yep. You have to get your master's then nowadays for Yeah, so I got my bachelor's, and then I went back and got my master's. When I graduated, I think it was like within five years you had to get your master's, so I did that through Ashland. Okay. Yeah. All right. So what I'm going to show you here, this is a voluntary statement form. And like I had said out at the house, there's allegations, there's allegations, okay? So I'm going to read you your rights, so you're totally clear on that you're on the end of the allegation and you understand your rights. Okay. Am I making sense to you? Sure. The detective goes through Kellenberger's rights with her and she agrees to talk with both officers about the allegations that she's had a sexual relationship. with her babysitter who was also a student.

This is a voluntary statement form. Do you acknowledge that this is your signature on here? I didn't force you, threaten you, and promise you anything to sign the form? Yes. And you read your rights, you understand your rights. Do you have any questions about your rights? No.

And you wish to talk to me today? Yes. Okay. All right. So you're an intelligent person, all right? I want to kind of cut to the chase here. All right? I know after I left your house,

You made a phone call. I did. And you made that phone call. Yes. Okay. Involved in this case. And whether or not you learned that through that phone call or I'm telling you right now, she is making the allegations in this case.

Okay. Tell me what you know about those allegations and why I might want to speak to you today. Well, when you came, I assumed babysat for me for, three years we were very very close and so I assumed when you said a past student that I didn't know who else it could be so I called her okay and why would you think it was her just because she'd been in my house we were very close I mean we were probably best friends which I know it's kind of strange because okay and in regards to allegations what sort of allegations do you think she would be making she said on the phone that said something about kissing I mean like I said

we were she was like a daughter okay so you know kissing maybe on the cheek okay so you may have kissed on the cheek yeah okay um anything else like I said we were very close I mean we she she would stay at my house because she babysat we slept in the same room um you know after all of this and I called her it was just kind of like doesn't really look very good, but, you know, like I said, we were just super, super close. All right, well, I guess let's back up then. Sure. When did she start babysitting for you?

Let's see, it was end of 2019. It was right before COVID. Okay, so what, I guess, what grade do you teach? I teach sixth grade. And what school, excuse me for not knowing. No, that's okay. But is there more than one school in Shelby that has sixth grade? No.

Which school is? So it was Shelby Middle School. Okay. Yeah. And did she attend that school at that time? She did. She was, I think she was in eighth grade at the time. So she wasn't my student at the time.

Okay. But she was in that school in eighth grade? In that school in eighth grade, yes. Kellenberger will go on to reveal that she asked this student to babysit for her. This started right before COVID. So that would have been late 2019. Yeah, she had been my student in sixth grade. You know, I see her in the building.

She would come and say hi to me after school, and I thought, you know, she would be a good option for babysitter. Okay. So you asked her to babysitter? Yes. All right. And then in December of that year, was the first time she made this? I think so, yeah.

I guess it was like at the right before COVID hit. And it looked like you had a daughter when I was at the house. And how old would she have been then? She was. Let's see, she's five now, because she would have been two, or let's see, 21, 18, I think I can. Two. Okay. Yeah.

Or one and a half, I guess. So how often would she babysit beginning in December of 2019? Maybe, started out maybe like once every other week, and it would be like on Fridays. Okay, so pretty regularly? Yeah. A couple times a month, a couple times a week. couple times a month in the beginning and then COVID hit. Okay.

So she actually came and stayed with us for a few months during COVID. Okay, and just out of necessity or convenience or... Yeah, just because of, you know, we were all in quarantine and... Okay. Did she not have a good home life or... Well, I mean, she didn't, but that's kind of beside the point. But I... Well, I guess, help me understand them.

Yeah, sure. she's four I mean if I have a 14 year old girl I she'd be at my house right right and it was you know cleared by her parents and everything but during COVID I had to do like online trainings and things like that so I needed somebody there to watch my daughter we were all quarantined and so it was easier for her to just stay with us okay no was she got did she get paid or compensated for her like so well what did that look like gosh I think we started out like originally when she was babysitting with like $15 an hour and then when she came for those three months it was a lump sum and I don't remember what it even was Did you pay her by check or just cash?

Oh gosh, I don't know it might have been Venmo, it might have been cash So what it would have been during her eighth grade year of 20 she was there basically living there during the COVID time of school She was for about Maybe a month or two. That she was staying with us. That she was staying with us, yeah. And she got close with my whole family. I mean, she was like part of our family.

Okay. And then at some point she just left and went back to her mom and dads? She just was so long ago. She eventually did go back, but she would still, you know, come and babysitting. At that point, she would come and she would, like, be there for the weekend. And just helped me with Eva, my daughter. Okay. So it was common for her just to come and stay for the weekend? Oh, like every time she would come babysitting?

No, not necessarily, but I mean it wasn't uncommon for her to stay. Okay. So it was just common for whenever she came over to stay for the weekend or stay for long periods of time overnight? Sometimes, yes. Okay, and did her parents know back then that she was staying extended periods of time? Had you had any conversations with your parents about that? I tried to. I offered to talk with them because they didn't really want to talk with me about it, I guess. Did you ever talk to them about it?

I don't know that I really did. Do you know if they knew exactly that she was with you? Yes. You do know. I mean, I was there when she would call them. So, I mean, as far as I know, yes. as far as I know yes. Now this is all background information, of course,

and it's possible that the detectives already know the answers to some of the questions they're asking, or at least what the accuser has told them and they're seeing how Kellenberger will answer these questions. Then they turn to the allegations that the student has made. All right. So specifically what we're having a problem with is this, is she's making some sexual allegations that started at that COVID time

where she's staying, basically what you're telling me, living in the house. Right. During that period of time where you and her started a sexual relationship together. She and I did? Correct. Is that true? No. Okay. Help me understand why she would make that up.

I don't know. I don't know. So she's lying? I mean, as far as that is concerned, I, yes, she was at our house. You know, I don't know. Stephanie, I started this by saying that you're an intelligent person, and my goal is not to rip apart your life. Thank you. Okay?

But understand that it's my job to. Sure. I understand. And that I will. I understand that, yeah. Should I need to? Right. Okay.

Now, I talked to her for a couple hours. Okay. In great detail about the nature of her. Now, I'm not saying that you forced yourself in any manner on her. I'm not saying that she didn't willingly participate in a lot of this activity. That's not what I'm saying to you. Okay. Okay? What I'm saying is maybe she was a little too young at the time.

Well, and I mean, in hindsight, she's not been saying at my house. And that's what I want you to be honest with me about. because, okay, she makes mistakes, I make mistakes, you make mistakes, we all make mistakes, okay? Yeah, there's consequences for them, but I don't want to go dip in, I don't want to force myself into your life if I don't have to. Right, absolutely. But understand it's my job. And that's why, in this case, I came right to you because I wanted to get them right to you and let you know that these are my cards. You let me play them out.

they need to be played. Yes. But these are my options. Okay? The allegations are that you guys started a sexual relationship, her eighth grade year when she was babysitting your daughter in 20 or 20. Okay. Okay.

Inside your house, all right? Okay. That I don't know you and your husband's situation, but you guys slept in different bedrooms. Is that true? Periodically we would. During COVID, I would sleep on the couch. Okay.

just for to make it easier and I'm not here to do marital police either right I don't care it doesn't matter to me okay that's fine but the 14 year old that's babysitting your kid probably shouldn't know that right well I mean she does in our house she had a room so she does know this okay probably shouldn't right okay we're sleeping in the same room as our 14-year-old babysitter that goes to the school that we teach at. Probably not the greatest decision, okay? Yes. So does it prove some credence to what she's telling me?

Yeah, it probably does, Stephanie. Well, we did not have a sexual relationship, though. Okay. The detective is skeptical, to say the least. The accuser is now 16, and Kellenberger admitted to calling her after the detectives had been to her home to ask her about this. Kellenberger makes some startling admissions after the detective turns up the heat. You're saying there was never anything physical between the two of you?

We would lounge on the couch together. You know, we would hug. I did it. Stephanie, you and I are both adults. Okay. You know what I mean about physical. Was there any sexual contact between you and her? No.

Okay. The allegations are that you guys... side of each other. You had oral sex with each other, okay? And that these things occurred over several years just stopping last February. Okay. Okay? Okay. I'm taken aback by that. Well, I can imagine. Yes. They're very serious allegations. Absolutely. Absolutely. And it's my job to get to the bottom of them. Absolutely. I understand that. I understand. You're saying in no way did any of that occur and that she's fabricating this story. Well, let me take, let me back on.

She's fabricating only what benefits you. You see what I'm saying? Say that again? She's fabricating just the parts that benefit you. Okay. The sexual parts. Yes. Everything else she's telling the truth about to me.

Well, I mean, she stayed at my house. She, you know. Let me ask you this. Did you guys have a room upstairs where you guys slept on an air mattress together in the library? She, the library was a big room in my house where she slept. We had an air mattress there for her. Okay. Not you.

Just her? I would sleep there sometimes when she wasn't there. So it was kind of like a spare room. So you never slept in there with her? there were a couple of times that we fell asleep. Stephanie? Yes. I need you to be honest with you.

You're not. I'm sorry. I am just taken aback by all of this. I really am. Because you're not being honest. I am. Stephanie, this is what we do for a living. Okay.

And whether you like it or not, you're sitting in that seat for a reason. Okay. Okay? You can sit there and pretend like these things didn't happen, but unfortunately they happened and they came to light. And I'm sorry that that happened, and I'm sorry that you made these decisions, but the decisions were made.

And it is not fair for you to sit there and say that none of this occurred. Do you agree or not? I agree that if that had happened, it did not happen. Do I need to get a lawyer? I cannot answer that for you. You do have that option. Right. I guess I probably should.

I mean... Do you want an attorney? I have to ask you that. If you want an attorney, we have to stop. I'm sorry. This is, like I said, I'm taken aback by everything. I really am. I understand that totally.

And listen, these are your rights. If you want one, I cannot ask you questions. Okay, we have to stop. Do you want a moment to think? And I ask you in a minute? No, I think that I want one, please. Okay, all right. Okay.

Now, you saw Stephanie Kellenberger apparently texting someone on her phone. Then she sits in the room alone. And just by reading her body language, Kellenberger appears to be concerned. She sits there for less than two minutes before the female detective returns to ask for her phone. So just it's something we do with everybody these days. Obviously, everybody's legs are on their phones. Okay. I am diabetic and my sensor is attached to that.

So I'm fine because I can affect it other ways, but it may start beeping and going off. Okay. All right. There's two options with the phone. Okay. First option is you can sign consent for us to download the contents of the phone and it would get back to you pretty quick.

Oh, like your, okay. Yep. Just because like I said, everybody's lives are on their phone, if this did not happen and, when they help us to prove that no it didn't happen. Okay. There's no messages, there's no anything like that. It could be to your benefit.

Okay. Okay. So like I said, there's two options with it when we can sign a consent, which just means that you're giving us consent to download the contents. It would get it back to you pretty quick. I can't guarantee you tomorrow,

but we can try it sometime tomorrow. Okay. If you don't want to sign a consent and it's completely your choice, we would then get a search warrant for it. Okay, take a little bit longer. And then if we didn't have the passcode, it would obviously take however long for them to get into it. So, and sometimes that takes a couple weeks.

Sometimes it takes a couple months. Just depends on that kind of thing. Sure. So which do you want? I'll send the consent. Okay, fine. All right. Same line or not.

Okay. Is there any way you can let my husband know that he won't be able to reach me? Is he? Yeah, you can do it right. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Hopefully, like I said, maybe we can drop it off tomorrow.

Okay. Is there another phone number that you want us to call? I can give you my husband. Okay. If you want to write it down there, you know, his name. I usually get home about 3.30. Although, I don't know, how is it's going to pack my child? Like, am I going to be able to...

So obviously it would probably be something you would have to disclose to them. Okay. And probably better coming from you than here. Sure. I appreciate that. But I don't know what their policy is or that kind of thing. Okay. Do you have to ask the school?

Okay. My, I don't know. My assumption would be, I don't know if they put you on some kind of page or. But would it be possible to get some contacts out of there, like my principal's number? Yeah. In my phone so that I can. Do you have a call? Yeah.

Okay. Thanks so much. Kellenberger sits in silence. In apparent deep thought. She later consents to have head-to-toe photos taken of her at the hospital so detectives can confirm or refute the teenage girl's story based on things that she described about Kellenberger's body. Stephanie Kellenberger was later indicted on 21 counts. Prosecutors had claimed that Kellenberger groomed the student starting when she was just 13 and the sexual battery began when the student was 14 and continued until she was 16. Kellenberger would later plead guilty to the charges. During her sentencing hearing, RichlandSource.com quoted Kellenberger as saying to the victim,

I know that during this time you were just a child and I was an adult in a position of trust. I'm responsible for everything that happened between us. Kellenberger is eligible for early release after serving 10 years, but she has to ask the judge for that and she cannot have any contact with the victim. She'll also have to register as a tier three sex offender for the rest of her life after she's released. And that's it for this episode of Crime Fix. I'm Annette Levy. Remember, you can watch and listen to us on Spotify as well as YouTube. So check us out there. We'll see you back here next time.