By Lisa Holewa A.P.B. News

March 17, 2000

TAMPA, Fla. -- A woman accused of befriending teenagers at a school bus stop and then bringing them home for sex faces new charges, and police believe there are more victims out there.

Police say Patricia Burmeister, 32, seduced the boys and girls, ages 12 to 15, by allowing them to skip school, drink alcohol and watch pornographic movies at her Tampa home.

"She befriended them by allowing them to do ... all the things that society and their parents would not allow them to do," police spokesman Joe Durkin said. "And then she committed the lewd and lascivious acts. Without going into the details, some of these things she did with these kids are just disgusting."

Burmeister was arrested and charged earlier this week with performing lewd and lascivious acts on a child, unlawful acts on a child, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and providing alcohol to a minor. Those counts involved six adolescent victims, Durkin said.

Charged with abusing own child

Police filed additional charges Thursday after finding three more young victims, Durkin said.

Burmeister also was charged with one count of child abuse involving alleged physical abuse of her own 4-year-old daughter. She also has a 9-year-old son, Durkin said. The children have been removed from her home and placed with relatives.

"Right now, there's nothing to indicate her own kids were involved in the lewd acts," Durkin said.

Burmeister was released from jail after posting bond Tuesday night but was jailed again after the new charges were filed. She remained behind bars today in lieu of $94,000 bond.

'All shapes and sexes'

The investigation began after police received a tip from a concerned adult, Durkin said. Their investigation is ongoing, and police say there may be more victims. Other charges related to the current nine victims also may be filed, he said.

"The shocking thing to some people is that this is a woman," he said. "But it's not just adult males that are out there snatching kids. Abusers come in all shapes and sexes."

Lisa Holewa is an APBnews.com correspondent in Florida.