Teacher Of The Year Allegedly Sent 11-Year-Old Student Over 60 'Love Letters'

A 27-year-old South Carolina teacher was accused of stalking an 11-year-old girl to whom authorities say he sent over 60 “love letters,” the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office announced.

Starr Elementary School teacher Dylan Dukes was charged with stalking after deputies said he was inappropriately communicating with a former student, according to the news release.

After an investigation began Monday, detectives who searched Dukes’ classroom reported that they found several photographs of Dukes and the 11-year-old stowed in his desk, according to the news release. Authorities stressed that the photos were not sexual in nature.

Deputies said that Dukes had been stalking the girl since August 2023 and feared his actions were “leading toward criminal sexual conduct,” according to an arrest warrant obtained by HuffPost.

Dukes had allegedly given the girl more than 60 “love letters,” one for each day of the week during summer break, inside a personalized box, according to the news release.

In addition to the letters, Dukes had also given the girl gift cards, ornaments and pictures, and had given her unwanted hugs, all of which made her feel uncomfortable, according to the warrant.

“Detectives were able to stop the harassment and stalking before it became anything physical ― which the juvenile was in fear of,” the sheriff’s office said in its news release.

As she spoke at his bond hearing on Thursday , the girl’s mother started crying when she described the letters, in which she said Dukes told the girl he loved her. The mother said Dukes had manipulated the family and even joined their church to see the girl. She said she wanted to ensure no other child experienced the stress and fear her child had.

“My child has had to endure moments of uncomfortability in places like church, school and sports, where my child should be comfortable and able to enjoy being a child,” the mother said.

The girl’s mother said that the access Dukes had to her child “had continued to grow his obsession.” The father asked the judge to consider his family’s safety when deciding whether to grant Duke’s bond request.

“Given Mr. Dukes’ unrestricted access to our family over the years and the unknown intentions of his obsession, I cannot feel secure knowing that he is not going to put my family in danger,” the father said.

An attorney representing Dukes at his hearing urged the judge to grant him bond, stating that he is not a flight risk and adding that he had been named Starr Elementary’s teacher of the year in 2023.

Dukes’ bond was ultimately set at $50,000, and he was ordered to not have any contact with the girl or her family.

In a statement to WYFF-TV in Greenville, South Carolina , Kathy D. Hipp, superintendent of Anderson School District 3, said Dukes was placed on administrative leave following his arrest.