Shocking texts, secret 'memoir' reportedly reveal special-ed teacher's affair with student

New eyebrow-raising allegations have surfaced in the case against an Illinois special education teacher who is accused of having an "inappropriate sexual relationship" with a student. The teacher reportedly sent shocking text messages to the student and kept a secret "memoir" detailing her anger after the relationship ended.

As Blaze News reported last month, 30-year-old Christina Formella was arrested on March 16. She was charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and criminal sexual assault against a minor. Formella was released after her first court appearance on the conditions that she not enter school grounds and not have contact with anybody under 18.

'I love you sooooo much baby.'

Since 2020, Formella has been a special education teacher at Downers Grove South High School, where she was also a boys' and girls' soccer coach.

Formella reportedly was the alleged victim's soccer coach and tutor.

In December 2023, the then-28-year-old teacher allegedly sexually assaulted the boy when he was 15 years old.

The DuPage County state's attorney said in a statement that "the victim and Formella were in a classroom for a tutoring session before school began, when Formella sexually assaulted the boy."

“I love having sex with you," Formella allegedly wrote in a text message sent to the boy in 2023, according to court documents.

WGN-TV reported that the student said in a text message to his teacher, “I love you so so much mama.”

Formella allegedly replied, “I love you sooooo much baby… Even though this morning was short, it was perfect."

The student reportedly responded, “I know baby, it was perfect baby, so perfect.”

The illicit sexual encounter reportedly was the only time the pair was intimate. Both allegedly admitted that the sexual encounter was wrong, according to the New York Post.

The student allegedly ended the relationship, and the pair didn’t speak after February 2024, prosecutors said.

Formella reportedly became infuriated with the alleged victim for cheating on her.

The married teacher allegedly had a secret "memoir" in her phone's notes app.

Following her arrest, investigators searched her cell phone and allegedly discovered notes saying the student “cheated on me” and calling him “disgusting,” according to a petition to deny her pretrial release that People magazine obtained.

“We will never ever be together again,” Formella purportedly wrote. “I'm not a second choice. I'm the best thing you'll ever have even with all of my mistakes.”

In a section titled “Manifestations,” the teacher allegedly wrote that she expected the teen to "reach out" soon to "try to fix things between us."

“In the meantime, I’m going to live my best life knowing he’s not the person I thought he was and that he is beneath me,” she reportedly wrote.

When detectives pressed her about her notes, Formella allegedly claimed that writing was a way she dealt with anxiety. According to police, Formella said she didn't have sex with the student, and any reference to sexual content was a reference to her husband.

According to the petition, Formella claimed that “everybody comes after her because she is good-looking, and she is just a good person who cared too much about [the alleged victim].”

Formella allegedly described the boy as a "stalker."

As Blaze News previously reported, Formella allegedly told investigators that the student broke into her phone and sent text messages to himself to set her up for blackmail.

"She claimed that one day, [the boy] had grabbed her phone unattended, had entered her passcode ... had sent the message to his phone, had then deleted the message from her phone, and had saved it to his phone as blackmail," according to court documents.

Formella was arrested after the teen's mother found sexually explicit text messages on the boy's cell phone.

'I have a feeling I'm going to throw up.'

Recently released police bodycam video showing the moment Formella was arrested during a traffic stop.

The officer is seen on video requesting Formella step out of her vehicle.

Formella's confused husband says, "I don't understand what's going on here."

The officer does not explain the reason for the arrest.

"Once you get to the police station, you'll talk to the detective, and he'll explain everything to you," the officer is heard saying on the video.

Formella breaks down in tears and says, "I have a feeling I'm going to throw up."

The teacher is on paid leave from Downers Grove South High School.

Downers Grove South High School Principal Arwen Lyp wrote in an email to parents, "We are devastated, and our community is reeling. An adult has been charged with the most serious of violations, and trust has been broken. Our team is here to support students who are impacted by this terrible news."

Don Renner, president of the Board of Education of Community High School District 99, previously stated: "We are heartbroken for the victim and also for the hundreds of students, staff, and [families] who trusted this teacher and feel betrayed by this terrible situation. Our top focus now is to support for [sic] victim and their family."

DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said, "The allegations against Ms. Formella are extremely disturbing."

"It is alleged that she used her position of trust and authority as a tutor and a coach to sexually assault a minor student," Berlin continued. "The type of abuse and behavior alleged in this case will not be tolerated."

Formella is scheduled to appear in court on April 14.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!