Serena Cator: Oklahoma teacher who stalked, groomed and solicited sex from minor boys via social media apps arrested
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MCLOUD, OKLAHOMA: An Oklahoma teacher was taken into custody after she was charged with multiple felonies, including alleged stalking, grooming, and soliciting sex from minor male students using social media applications. Serena Faith Merrill Cator, employed at McLoud High School, was arrested on March 16.
The 43-year-old faces three counts of soliciting sexual conduct with minors by using technology. The teacher has been accused of having inappropriate sexual conversations with minor male students aged between 14 and 18, sending and asking for nude pictures from at least three of the 10 victims. Cator reportedly admitted to authorities that two of the male victims previously dated her daughter, reported Law and Crime.
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School investigated Cator's conduct
In November 2022, the school administrators began an investigation into Cator's conduct after a parent reported that her daughter informed her about the teacher having sex with some of her classmates. Following the report, Cator signed a statement that revealed that she "willingly admitted she has been sending and receiving lewd and indecent messages and pictures to several of her male students."
Cator reportedly said that she believed a mental illness to be a cause behind her difficulty in separating her reality and dreams apart and she understood that she need help. The accused teacher, who provided a written list of 10 male student victims, was terminated from her job in December 2022.
Cator used various social media apps to approach students
According to investigators, before messaging her victims through various social media apps, mainly Snapchat, Cator approached her victims in person, according. She tried to establish a personal relationship with the mothers of the victims she allegedly stalked by sending them photographs of their children participating in sports events or being in class.
The affidavit reportedly stated, "[Cator] told the parents how great each of the boys were doing." After Cator was taken into custody, she refused to respond to questions relating to the illegal sexual activity allegations and has retained an attorney. As per court documents, she has been released after posting a bond of $15,000 from the Pottawatomie County Detention Center, reported Law and Crime.