Mom accused of blackmailing daughter's 13-year-old ex with nude photos

ELGIN, Ill. - Police are investigating whether a local 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.

Parents of a 13-year-old boy reported to police in August that their son had received hundreds of threatening e-mails and text messages after the boy and his Elgin, Ill. girlfriend ended their middle school relationship after five months, 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.

"It's kids being kids. If they knew anything like this was going to happen, they might have just stayed together in fear that something terrible would happen and it would come out like this," concerned parent Alan Gromer said.

The mother of the girl used those photos to blackmail the boy to reignite the relationship between the teens, police said.

"I think that's terrible to do to somebody's child," one parent in the small village said.

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

Investigators said the children won't face any charges, but the teen girl's mother faces felony charges which could include possessing child pornography.

"The mother that caused all of this should definitely be prosecuted. That's ridiculous," parent Chris Williams said.

Police said charges are likely to come next week.