A shocking investigation has revealed decades of abuse at Miss Hall’s School, an elite boarding school in Massachusetts. A new report found that history teacher Matthew Rutledge harmed multiple students over many years — and avoided charges because of the state’s age of consent laws.

The school hired an outside law firm to review past complaints, and the findings were alarming. Investigators concluded that Rutledge groomed and took advantage of at least five students between the 1990s and 2010. Former students said his behavior was widely known on the small campus, yet school leaders ignored warning signs again and again.

Many of the victims said the grooming began when they were 14 or 15 and escalated once they turned 16 — the legal age of consent in Massachusetts. Because of this law, prosecutors say they cannot charge Rutledge, even though the behavior described in the report is deeply troubling. The investigation also confirmed misconduct by seven other former employees.

Miss Hall’s School has since apologized, settled some claims, and introduced new safety rules. These include updated staff training and strict guidelines for where teachers and students can meet. Trustees thanked the survivors who came forward and said they were “deeply sorry” for what students endured.

Two former students, Melissa Fares and Hilary Simon, are now pushing lawmakers to change the law. They argue that no 16-year-old can truly consent to a teacher who controls their grades, recommendations, and school life. They want new protections so future students are never put in the same position.

The district attorney’s office is reviewing new evidence from the report, but the case remains open. For many, the findings highlight how gaps in the law and years of silence allowed abuse to continue unchecked.