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Love Messages To Student Among Ragusa Evidence

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By JOSH POLTILOVE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 8, 2008

TAMPA - Former Hillsborough County middle school teacher Stephanie Ragusa sent a text message to a boy to say she was freaking out because the Hillsborough County School District's office of professional standards kept calling her.

Hours later, though, she sent him another message. She wanted to let him know how good the sex had been between them that day. He agreed, and she messaged him back.

"I love that u can change my whole mood," she wrote. "Bring me up when I feel down. Its magical."

The conversations were included among hundreds of pages of discovery documents released Thursday by the State Attorney's Office. The documents also include Ragusa's last will and testament, in which she addresses the same student.

Ragusa is in Falkenburg Road Jail, accused of having sex with two students. She declined to comment Thursday.

According to the documents, the evidence against her includes a love letter addressed by Ragusa, the will, DNA test results, a Christmas card and key chain given to a student by Ragusa, text messages and a cell phone video of Ragusa kissing a student on April 28.

"Please finish school," Ragusa wrote to the boy in the will. "I cannot believe how lucky I was to have met you. Deep down, you are so warm + caring. Meet your potential."

In text messages with the boy, she said she loved him, and they discussed dating and her giving him money.

On the night of March 4, she texted him to say she would be going to an accountant the following day. He told her that he talked with a person who was going to sell him a car. The following day, he told her he needed $1,500 from her.

One of the alleged victims told deputies April 16, the day after Ragusa's second arrest, that he didn't disclose all the details of his relationship with Ragusa the first time because he thought it would get him in trouble.

The same victim told investigators he met Ragusa at an after-school learning program. He said they had sex more than 100 times.

Assignment editor Howard Altman contributed to this report. Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691 or jpoltilove@tampatrib.com.

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