I’m wondering if she thought publicly rejecting him would give her witnesses if he later started stalking her, or would be more definitive than whatever private advances she had turned down.
She probably noticed he was a bit crazy but never foresaw this of course. Sad.
She was failed by the adult (Liberals) around her. There needed to be a male coach or some male history/science teacher to take the boy aside and teach him.
The girl in turn needed some kind of wordily woman to take her in hand and help guide her. Unfortunately todays culture actively works against such options.