Former teacher Ragusa spells out final wishes

TAMPA -- Former teacher Stephanie Ragusa wants her teenage lover to keep a portion of her life insurance policy and to have the rest put in her autistic brother's trust, according to a handwritten will included as part of records released today by the Hillsborough State Attorney's Office.

Ragusa, 29, has been jailed since April 28 after detectives stumbled upon her leaving the home of a prior victim, her third arrest on sex charges since March.

In discovery materials made public this morning, investigators detail what transpired after Ragusa was caught leaving the teen's home. The records show:

-- Investigators recovered DNA from the boy, Ragusa and a T-shirt.

-- The boy told detectives the pair had sex more than 100 times since the two met in February 2007 at  Davidsen Middle School, where Ragusa taught an after-school learning program.

-- Ragusa gave the boy personalized gifts, including two keychains with personalized etched messages from a romantic gifts catalog and named him the executor of her will.

-- Ragusa spelled out her wishes in a handwritten will, saying she wants a funeral like her late mother Angela's, "candle-lit (sic) and red roses or flowers only."

In the will, Ragusa urges the boy, now 16, to finish school.

"I cannot believe how lucky I was to have met you. Deep down, you are so warm + caring. Meet your potential, find love, happiness + and a family of your own," she wrote. "U deserve no less."

The discovery materials also include an undated memo from Ragusa on school district letterhead to a Davidsen boy's parents saying he had been selected to be part of a mentoring program known as "Dragon Connections." The memo stated that most of the contact between teacher and student would occur during the school day but they might meet out of school -- with parental permission.

Hundreds of text messages between Ragusa and an alleged victim detail a sexual relationship where Ragusa offered to help the boy buy a car with more than $1,000 of her money. They also showed that Ragusa kept in constant contact with the boy even after talking to police and an attorney.

In one text message, she told the boy, "I loved today. The sex was amazing." In another exchange on March 2, she told him she wanted to go on a date:

Ragusa: Do u have a movie u want to watch at ur house? U know. In addition to… Wink wink.
Victim: No…
R: So no “date” … Which is what we really need. Bedroom girlfriend?! Baby. Lets try to do something romantic, different.
V: Like wat?
R: Idk. Can you think of anything. Maybe…giving each other massages.? Candle light. Music. Or pleasant/romantic movie”
V: Then come over
R: With massage oil? Candles? Towels? Movie?
V: Idk whatever u want?
R: Tell me what u want.

On April 12, she messaged the alleged victim again.

“I can’t take it. I’m hurting so bad. I give up. I can’t win. My life will never be good and happy again. And I’m losing my love every day that we r apart.”

-- Casey Cora and Justin George, Times staff writers