A high school teacher charged with murdering her ex-husband earlier this month is expected to be released on bail after a judge halved her bond to $ 250,000 at a hearing on Thursday . Cara Ryan , 45 , is accused of killing John ' J.J . ' Rush , also 45 , at her home in Indian Rocks Beach , Florida , after an argument on the evening of March 7 . Rush 's daughter , Meghan , 21 , who testified at the hearing , sobbed as Circuit Judge Michael Andrews announced his decision to halve Ryan 's original $ 500,000 bond . Meghan Rush , 21 , wept in court on Thursday after a judge halved stepmom Cara Ryan 's bail to $ 250,000 . Cara Ryan , 45 , is accused of killing John ' J.J . ' Rush , also 45 , at her home in Indian Rocks Beach , Florida , after an argument on the evening of March 7 . Authorities allege that Ryan shot Rush after calling him to her home with a sexually suggestive text message , reports The Tampa Bay Times . Police said Ryan started dating a detention deputy after separating from Rush earlier this year . She eventually admitted to investigators that the deputy had texted her the night of the killing and Rush became angry after seeing the message . The couple divorced in 2006 but had been in an on-and-off relationship since . Rush 's family say that the relationship had soured again in recent months and he had moved out of the home in February . During Thursday 's bail hearing , Meghan Rush testified that her stepmom and her father had often fought during their marriage . Forensic specialists told the judge that they believe Rush was shot at about 10:14 p.m. Ryan called 911 at 10:17 p.m. and told the dispatcher that Rush had raped her and so she had shot him . During Thursday 's bail hearing , Meghan Rush testified that her stepmom and her father had often fought during their marriage . Authorities allege that Ryan shot Rush after calling him to her home with a sexually suggestive text message . Since then Ryan has changed her story several times and at one point she claimed a stranger had burst into her bedroom before she fired the gun . She has been charged with second-degree murder . Though acknowledging that the evidence against Ryan is 'pretty significant , ' Judge Andrews said her family ties made her a low flight risk . Rush , known to friends as 'JJ ' , had worked in the forensic unit at the St Petersburg Police Department . He retired after being injured following an on-duty car crash in 2005 . Afterwards he went to work for the county medical examiner 's officer , family members said . Sergeant Joe Pratt , who had worked with Rush , said he was stunned that his friend , who had survived working a dangerous job , was ultimately killed at home , WTSP reported . Split : Ryan , a high school teacher , and Rush , a former cop , had divorced in 2003 but had rekindled and had moved back in together . But their relationship soured again and he moved out last month . Scene : The shooting unfolded following an argument at Ryan 's home , pictured , on March 7 . 'Something like this , you just never anticipate , so it 's really a shock when something like this happens to someone you know and care about and has been a part of your life the past 25 years , ' he said . Ryan , who owns the home where Rush was shot , is a media production teacher at Clearwater High School . According to her LinkedIn page , she has been with the school district for two decades . Her Facebook profile features a picture of her and her ex-husband sitting close together and looking into each other 's eyes . Another image shows them walking on a beach with their daughter . On a gofundme page set up in her father 's memory , their daughter Meghan paid tribute to his service . The page has raised more than $ 6,000 of a $ 10,000 goal . 'The unexpected death of John has been an emotional roller coaster for our family , ' she wrote . 'We are all proud of John 's service and we always greatly appreciate the day to day sacrifices that our men and women in uniform make just like John has . '
Meghan Rush , 21 , wept in court on Thursday after a judge reduced stepmom Cara ##gan 's bail to $ 250,000 . Ryan is charged with killing John ' Mr . ' Rush at her home in chat Rocks Beach , Florida , after an argument on March 7 . Authorities allege that she shot Rush after calling him to her home with a sexually suggestive text message . Ryan told cops that Rush became angry after seeing a text message she had received from a police deputy she had started calling .