Former Red Clay principal indicted on child rape and abuse charges

A former middle school principal in Delaware has been indicted on multiple felony charges, including rape and child sexual abuse, following allegations she assaulted a minor over several years while holding a position of authority.

Tasha Purnell, who was known professionally as Tasha Oliver during her time as principal at Alexis I. du Pont Middle School in Wilmington, was indicted in August on 19 felony counts.

The charges include third- and fourth-degree rape, continuous sexual abuse of a child, and sexual abuse of a child by a person in a position of trust.

Court documents allege that between August 2010 and July 2014, Purnell abused a female victim—identified in legal documents only as D.B.—while serving as a teacher at Stanton Middle School in New Castle County.

The victim was under the age of 16 at the time.

Purnell, 43, became principal at Alexis I. du Pont Middle School in January 2020. She went on administrative leave in September 2023. and the assistant principal stepped in to lead the school.

Purnell was officially terminated a year later, but records show she continued to receive her full $142,000 salary during that time.

As of now, school district officials have not responded to requests for comment.

Purnell taught at Stanton Middle School from 2006 to 2016, the same period during which the abuse allegedly occurred. Her indictment marks a rare and serious case involving a high-ranking school official in the state’s education system.