Fired Florida Teacher Mails 'Suspicious White Powder' To Elementary Schools

A former elementary school teacher is facing charges after she sent packages that contained unknown powder to multiple schools in Florida.

66-year-old Maria Bassi Lauro from Davenport pleaded guilty to sending threatening mail to elementary schools throughout central Florida back in 2018, according to the Department of Justice.

Lauro had been fired for poor performances at Citrus Ridge Academy and Four Corners Charter School in Davenport, Groveland Elementary School, and Laurel Elementary School in Poinciana.

She then mailed packages to the schools in August and September of 2018. They were sent to employees who played a role in her performance reviews or terminations, reports FOX23.

The four envelopes she sent contained a suspicious white powder and three also had notes explaining that the mail was "punishment," according to prosecutors.

When local and federal authorities responded after each letter was found, their tests showed that the suspicious powder was actually baking soda.

The tests also found Lauro's DNA on the mail sent to three of the schools.

She admitted that she wanted the recipients of the letters to believe they had been exposed to a deadly toxin.

Lauro now faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.

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