Police Investigating Nd Teacher before He Died

By Pam Defiglio
The Patch
April 17, 2013

http://glenview.patch.com/articles/police-investigating-nd-teacher-before-he-died-10de5d97


The Niles Police Department said Wednesday that it was investigating Richard Balentine, a department head at Notre Dame College Prep, before he was found dead on Tuesday.

The department released a statement saying the investigation centered on whether inappropriate communications took place between Balentine and current or former Notre Dame students.

Earlier: Niles Notre Dame teacher found dead, apparent suicide

Police interviewed Balentine Monday morning, April 15, and said the investigation was in its preliminary stages, and nothing had been determined as to whether the communications were criminal in nature or violated school policy.

Police released Balentine after the Monday interview, and he was found dead Tuesday. Police said the investigation remains open.

School remembered him at previously-scheduled Mass 

Teresa Connelly, a spokeswoman for Notre Dame, said the Catholic boys' high school was not yet ready to make a statement on the situation. Students from many surrounding towns, and Chicago, attend the school.

Balentine was originally from Pennsylvania, and his family has not yet made funeral arrangements, she said.

"We had a regularly-scheduled Mass today, and we did remember him in our Mass today," she said Wednesday afternoon.

Was staying in former priests' quarters temporarily

Balentine was staying in a residence in what used to be priests' quarters at the school while he waited to move into a condo, she said. The area is now mostly an office wing, and it is a separate building from the school.

Niles Chamber determining how to proceed sensitively

The Niles Chamber of Commerce had announced a few weeks ago that Balentine was to be one of 12 honorees at its Night of the Roses gala awards dinner April 27. He was to receive the Teacher of the Year award.

Katie Schneider, executive director of the Chamber, said it will talk with Notre Dame representatives about how to proceed.

"At this point we will move forward with the Night of the Roses. There are 11 other recipients to honor," she said. "We're kind of still discussing it. We'll reach out to Notre Dame and be sensitive to the situation." 

Balentine had master's in theology, but was a lay person

Balentine, 38, had attended Villanova University in Pennsylvania, she said. Balentine's LinkedIn profile shows he received a master's degree in theology from that school in 2002. He also attended Saint Charle Borromeo Seminary-Overbrook, graduating with a B.A. in Philosophy in 1997. 

Connelly said he was not a member of the clergy, however.