Former Miss Hall’s School Teacher Indicted on Rape Charges
Matthew Rutledge, a former history teacher at Miss Hall’s School in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, was indicted on three counts of rape on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, following grand jury testimony from Melissa Fares and Hilary Simon.1 The indictment comes nearly two years after the women came forward with allegations of grooming and sexual abuse.
Allegations and Investigation
Fares and Simon publicly shared their experiences with Rutledge, alleging grooming and sexual abuse that began while they were students at the all-girls boarding school.1 The initial investigation, opened in the spring of 2024 by the Pittsfield Police Department, was later taken over by the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office.3
Initially, in 2024, the Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office stated it could not prosecute Rutledge due to the age of his accusers at the time of the alleged abuse, citing Massachusetts law which defines the age of consent as 16.1 However, the investigation remained open, and a team of special prosecutors and the Berkshire State Police Detective Unit were assigned to continue investigating the allegations.3
Independent Report and School Response
An independent report, commissioned by the Miss Hall’s School Board of Trustees and authored by the Aleta Law Firm, was released in 2025. The report detailed a “pervasive and chronic pattern of inappropriate staff conduct” and concluded that “the School’s leadership failed to adequately investigate and respond to the reported information.”3
Rutledge resigned from Miss Hall’s in 2024 after the police investigation began.1
Current Status and Reactions
Rutledge is scheduled for arraignment on April 22.1 Lawyers representing him in a separate civil lawsuit filed by Fares and Miss Hall’s declined to comment on the indictment.1
Melissa Fares expressed pride in the indictment, stating it was “a huge testament to us not backing down, and continuing to fight for what is right.” Hilary Simon echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the significance of the criminal justice system acknowledging the survivors’ experiences.1