Special Ed Teacher Charged After Sex With Student | Crime Alert Recap Saturday

Summary

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Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: Special Ed Teacher Charged After Sex With Student | Crime Alert Recap Saturday
Date: April 5, 2025

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Episode Overview

This episode of Crime Stories with Nancy Grace delivers a condensed, hard-hitting recap of the day's most shocking criminal cases. Focused on recent headlines, the show examines cases involving a special education teacher implicated in an illicit sexual relationship with a student, new felony charges facing Sean "Diddy" Combs, a double murder in Florida rooted in domestic violence, and a chilling murder-for-hire plot by a teacher in Ohio. The episode is rich with direct police quotes, courtroom moments, and insights into how vigilant relatives and thorough investigations brought these cases to light.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Illinois Special Ed Teacher Allegedly Has Sex with Student

[00:03 - 01:24]

• Case Overview: Christina Formella, a married special education teacher in Downers Grove, Illinois, is under investigation for allegedly engaging in a sexual relationship with her 15-year-old student.
• Discovery: The student’s mother found explicit text exchanges while setting up her son's iPhone, leading her to immediately contact the police.
• Incident: Allegedly, after weeks of flirtatious exchanges, Formella and the teen had sex in her classroom during a scheduled tutoring session.
• Arrest: Formella was apprehended in the presence of her husband, just eight months into their marriage, and appeared both confused and distraught during the arrest.
• Defense Claims: Formella denies all allegations, insisting she is being targeted due to her appearance and suggesting that the student faked the text messages and stalked her.
• Charges: She faces two counts of aggravated sexual assault and criminal sexual assault.

Notable Quote:

"Formella denies having a romantic relationship with the teen, claiming she's a good person and everybody comes after her because of her good looks. In the same breath, she calls the boy a stalker, insisting he sent the texts to himself."
— Jackie Howard [00:24]

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2. Sean "Diddy" Combs Faces Additional Federal Charges

[04:40 - 06:54]

• Legal Update: Sean “Diddy” Combs now faces five federal charges, including new counts of sex trafficking and transportation for prostitution, following a superseding indictment.
• Details: New allegations involve a second victim. Prosecutors describe "freak offs"—elaborate sex shows that individuals were allegedly coerced into participating in, sometimes under force or threat.
• Method: Combs is accused of using "force, threats of force and coercion" to compel involvement.
• Current Status: Remains incarcerated at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center awaiting trial (set for May 5), and pleads not guilty to all charges.
• Broader Impact: More than 12 lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct have been filed.

Memorable Segment:

"Combs and his associates would entice individuals under the guise of a romantic relationship before resorting to, quote, force, threats of force and coercion to compel their involvement in the freak offs."
— Nicole Parton [05:27]

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3. Double Murder Investigation: Florida Family Tragedy

[06:54 - 09:02]

• Incident: A grandfather discovers his daughter, Sarah Gamma, dead with her toddler missing in a bloody scene at her Plantation, Florida, home.
• Shocking Discovery: Her four-month-old baby was found alive; her two-year-old son was found drowned and stabbed in the backyard pool.
• Suspect: Husband, Jean Carlos Aponte, a Marine Corps vet, was found unconscious and later confessed multiple times, including mouthing “I’m sorry I did it” to officers.
• Motive: Evidence shows marital conflict uncovered by Sarah's search history, including the discovery of her husband’s affair.
• Aftermath: Aponte is charged with two counts of first-degree murder. The couple’s older child was killed days before his third birthday; the infant son survived.

Notable Moment:

"My daughter has been assaulted. I think she's dead. There's blood all over the place. I'm walking in it too right now. My daughter, she looks like her throat has been slashed. We're looking for the son."
— 911 Call (Grandfather) [07:26]

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4. Ohio: Teacher Solicits Student to Murder Her Husband

[09:02 - 10:26]

• Case Overview: Stephanie Demetrius, 44-year-old teacher at Academy for Urban Scholars, allegedly tried to hire a student to kill her estranged husband for $2,000.
• How the Plot was Exposed: Student’s mother discovered the scheme via messages and notified authorities.
• Evidence: Demetrius reportedly gave a $250 down payment and details on the husband's routine and when the children wouldn't be home.
• Court Proceedings: A digital recording captures Demetrius reassuring the student about payment and dismissing concerns about noise during the murder.
• Background: Records show an ongoing, turbulent divorce, with prior allegations of violence, arson, and threats.
• Current Status: Demetrius is out on $150,000 bond pending a preliminary hearing on April 11, facing life imprisonment if convicted.

Notable Quote:

"This particular teacher was attempting to groom this young person into committing murder. We're unsure of the specific reason as to why this teacher chose this particular student."
— Sgt. James Fuqua, Columbus Police [10:14]

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Noteworthy Quotes & Moments

• Police to Christina Formella:

  “Am I in trouble? Like I’m—I’m so lost right now.”
  — Christina Formella (during arrest) [01:14]

• Parent’s Horror in Florida Case:

  “We're looking for the son.”
  — Grandfather, 911 transcript [07:36]

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Timeline / Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:03 - 01:24] Special Ed teacher charged after sex with student (Illinois)
• [04:40 - 06:54] New federal sex trafficking charges against Sean “Diddy” Combs
• [06:54 - 09:02] Florida domestic murder-suicide attempt leaves two dead, one surviving infant
• [09:02 - 10:26] Ohio teacher solicits student in murder-for-hire plot against her husband

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Tone & Style

True to Nancy Grace’s brand, the episode delivers details in a rapid-fire, no-nonsense tone, focusing on victim advocacy, transparency, and unflinching descriptions of each crime. The use of audio from police, family members, and direct quotes intensifies the gravity of each case and centers the voices of those affected.

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Summary prepared for listeners:

This Crime Stories episode pulls no punches, traversing cases that reveal both shocking criminality and the vigilance of people who intervened before tragedies escalated further. From teachers betraying their professional and moral duties, to celebrity scandals and heartbreaking domestic horrors, Nancy Grace and her team distill each case for urgent listening and reflection on how justice unfolds in real time.

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Transcript

[A]

Crime alert. Hourly update. Breaking crime news now.

[B]

I'm Jackie Howard.

[C]

You don't have anything on you.

[D]

You can just grab whatever you need.

[E]

Whatever I need?

[F]

Yeah, whatever you need.

[C]

Like your phone, your purse, your code. Grab it.

[B]

Christina Formella is visibly confused when she's put into the back of a police car as part of an investigation. But an investigation into what? As a Downers Grove, Illinois mom sets up her 15 year old son's new iPhone using his icloud account, she comes across a hidden text conversation and drags her son straight to the police. Stat. The conversation is a discussion of a sexual encounter with his love interest, his married 30 year old special ed teacher, Christina. For Mella, the victim tells the police, after weeks of flirting, Formella slammed the door to her classroom and the two had sex during what was supposed to have been a tutoring session. Formella is arrested with her husband of just eight months in the car.

[F]

Is she going somewhere? Yeah.

[C]

We're going to explain everything to you guys, so go ahead and turn around for me.

[E]

Excuse me, Is my husband coming with?

[F]

Yes. Yeah, he's taking his phone number down. We're staying ATT.

[C]

We're just going to Downer Grove. The 10 minutes away.

[E]

No, I know, but I really would prefer that my husband's with me.

[F]

Of course.

[E]

Am I in trouble? Like I'm. I'm so lost right now.

[C]

I'm sure you don't want a tissue or something?

[F]

I have a feeling I'm gonna throw up a bag.

[C]

All right.

[B]

Formella denies having a romantic relationship with the teen, claiming she's a good person and everybody comes after her because of her good looks. In the same breath, she calls the bo boy a stalker, insisting he sent the texts to himself. Christina Formella is charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault and criminal sexual assault. Formella denies all allegations against her. For more on this ongoing investigation, tune into Crime Stories with Nancy Grace Monday on Dr. Phil's Merritt Street Media, 6, 9 and midnight Eastern. Check your local listings for channel assignments or subscribe to the Crime Stories with Nancy Grace podcast on your favorite podcasting app. More crime and justice news after this.

[E]

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[A]

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[D]

I'm Nicole Parton. Shawn Diddy Combs is now facing five criminal charges linked to his federal sex trafficking case. The fresh indictment, revealed by federal prosecutors in New York today includes an additional count each of sex trafficking and transportation for prostitution. These new allegations involve a second victim, according to the indictment. Combs, 55, was previously facing three counts which encompassed sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation for prostitution, based on an indictment first filed in September 2024. This indictment focuses on the alleged freak offs, which prosecutors described as elaborate and produced sex performances that the Music Mobile is accused of coercing individuals to participate in. It is claimed that com Combs and his associates would entice individuals under the guise of a romantic relationship before resorting to, quote, force, threats of force and coercion to compel their involvement in the freak offs. The new charge of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion asserts that Combs recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, obtained, advertised, maintained, patronized and solicited victim to, and attempted, aided and abetted and willfully caused victim two to engage in commercial sex acts fully aware and recklessly indifferent to the fact that Victim two was engaging in commercial sex act as a result of force fraud and coercion. The added count of transportation for prostitution is also linked to the claim made by Victim two. The earlier charges of sex trafficking and transportation for prostitution were solely connected to the allegations from Victim one. However, the racketeering charge remains unchanged in the new superseding indictment. The Combs is currently incarcerated at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention center awaiting his trial on federal charges set for May 5, to which he has pleaded not guilty. Additionally, he is named as a defendant in a numerous amount of lawsuits, more than 12 alleging sexual misconduct. Combs has denied all allegations against him.

[C]

I'm Drew Nelson. A frantic 911 call from a Florida grandfather sparks a murder investigation after he finds his daughter dead and her toddler missing inside a blood soaked home. On March 2026 of 2024, just before noon, Sarah Gamma's father unlocked the front door at her home and plantation. He and his wife had gotten worried, their daughter not answering her phone. Her husband, Jean Carlos Aponte was also not replying. They had expected him to drop off the kids at their house that morning. Inside they found the family's four month old baby crying in a swing. Then they saw the blood.

[F]

My daughter has been assaulted. I think she's dead. There's blood all over the place. I'm walking in it too right now. My daughter, she looks like her throat has been slash. We're looking for the sun.

[C]

As they went through the house, they found Aponte unconscious in the bedroom. They couldn't find their grandson. Police later found 2 year old Ethan Aponte face down in the backyard pool with stab wounds to his neck. Sarah Gamma had been stabbed 28 times. She had wounds to her face, neck, abdomen and spine. Her son had four stab wounds and drowned. In the kitchen, detectives found two blood covered knives, cut up food on a child's plate and a baby bottle between Gamma's legs. Blood marked the floor walls and led out to the lake in the water. Police recovered both parents phones. Jean Carlos Aponte, the 40 year old Marine Corps veteran had labored breathing and a faint pulse. Medics gave him Narcan at the scene. Police believe he tried to overdose after killing his family. He later told a nurse quote that s crazy and mouthed to officers quote I'm sorry I did it. Texts and camera footage inside the home revealed a fight that morning. Surveillance caught a child screaming, slamming sounds and shouting. Gamma's search history showed that she had discovered a p' nt having an affair and was researching divorce. In one unsent text message. She said, quote, call 91 1. Aponte was arrested days later and charged with two counts of first degree murder. He's being held without bond in Broward County. Gamma's parents said they had no warning signs. They believed the couple was happy. Ethan would have turned three the following week. His baby brother survived.

[F]

I'm Jennifer Gould. In a shocking case of alleged marital discord turned deadly contestants conspiracy, an Ohio teacher has been accused of soliciting one of her own high school students to murder her estranged husband for a mere 2000 bucks. Here she is addressing the judge in.

[D]

Court who is the juvenile involved in this case?

[F]

Have a seat in the back.

[C]

I'll have your attorney have a discussion with you. Okay?

[F]

Stephanie Demetrius, a teacher at the Academy for Urban Scholars High School in Columbus, allegedly offered the student a down payment before her arrest, According to Franklin county municipal court documents. Demetrius, 44, was arrested and charged with felony conspiracy to commit murder. The chilling plot allegedly unfolded when Demetrius approached the unnamed student at the school, offering a paltry sum of 2000 bucks to shoot her estranged husband. Authorities say the alarming situation came to light thanks to the vigilance of the student's mom, who found incriminating details on her kid's phone and promptly alerted officials. Sgt. James Fuqua of the Columbus Division of Police spoke at the news conference.

[C]

This particular teacher was attempting to groom this young person into committing murder. We're unsure of the specific reason as to why this teacher chose this particular student.

[F]

Court documents reveal that Demetrius allegedly provided the student with a $250 cash down pay payment. Furthermore, police obtained a digital recording in which Demetrius reportedly reassured the student that the remaining $1,750 was forthcoming. The teacher also allegedly provided the student with crucial details about her estranged husband's routine, including the fact that he worked from home and the times when their kids would be out of the house. When the student inquired about potential noise from the gunfire and concerned neighbors, Demetrius allegedly dismissed the concerns. While a public defender for Demetrius denied the allegations during a virtual court hearing, calling them a fabrication. Further details point a very troubling picture of the couple's fractured relationship. Franklin county domestic relations court records indicate that Demetrius filed for divorce from her husband, Carlington Demetrius, in April of 2024, marking her second attempt to end the marriage. Adding another layer to the allegations, Carlington Demetrius filed for emergency custody of their children in July of 2024, detailing a series of disturbing incidents involving his estranged wife. These allegations include violations of a stay away order, breaking into his home theft and even a claim that she used scissors to stick stab him while one of their kids was present. The filing also alleges instances of arson, property damage and the intentional disruption of basic utilities at his home. Stephanie Demetrius is now facing felony charges that could carry a life sentence if she is convicted. Demetrius has been released on a $150,000 cash surety bond. A preliminary hearing in the case is set for April 11th. For the latest crime and justice news, follow the Crime Alert hourly update on your favorite podcast app. With this crime alert, I'm Jennifer Gould.

[E]

It starts like any other night. The glass of red, the cozy blanket, then the drop. The stain's so dark, so stubborn, it might as well have been a crime scene. But this isn't your average couch. This is Anna Bay. Fully washable, unspeakably comfortable, and ready for whatever your life, your kids or your ex throws at it. And here's the kicker. Starting at just $699, you can make sure your sofa isn't part of the problem. Fully washable, stain resistant, and built to hide even the darkest defenses. Right now, get up to 60% off, because no one should have to live with a stain that won't quit. Annabe the only mystery you won't be losing sleep over shop washablesofas.com today. That's washablesofas.com hello divorce yes, this is a divorce ad about hellodivorce.com and you might be asking why you're hearing it. Even if you're happily married or single, chances are someone close to you might be thinking about or going through divorce. Help them skip expensive lawyers and unnecessary stress. Tell them to visit hellodivorce.com for clarity, savings and peace of mind. Because sometimes being a good friend means sharing the right resources. Hellodivorous.com support your friends can trust.

[D]

This is an iHeart podcast.