Who is Deborah Hodge? Ex Florida care home owner accused of abducting a disabled former patient
ORLANDO, FLORIDA: In a startling incident from Florida, Deborah Benita Hodge, aged 57 and a former care home owner, is now the subject of kidnapping allegations involving her former patient, Dorothy Thomas, according to the Daily Mail.
The troubling incident occurred following the closure of Hodge's care facility, which happened in the wake of the tragic death of the kidnapped woman's sister, who had been in her care.
Dorothy Thomas' sister died under the care of Deborah Benita Hodge
Hodge ran a facility for disabled adults from her Orlando, Florida, residence until August.
The facility was abruptly closed due to the comprehensive state investigation triggered by the tragic death of Thomas' sister, who was also under Hodge's care.
The investigation determined that Hodge's group home posed a substantial risk to the well-being and safety of its residents, resulting in its closure.
On October 27, as Thomas and other patients were getting ready to move to a new facility, a startling incident occurred. Thomas, who is described as "severely disabled," was intercepted and placed in Hodge's custody.
The circumstances of this purported abduction have raised questions about the planning and coordination involved.
Quest Training Center suggests Deborah Hodge and Dorothy Thomas premeditated the abduction
While the patients were preparing to relocate from the Quest Training Centre to their new facility, an arrest warrant for Hodge outlines that a maroon SUV was observed parked nearby.
Initially, the staff didn't find the presence suspicious, as case workers regularly visited the facility. However, the subsequent events indicated a carefully planned abduction.
The Quest Training Center indicated that Hodge and Thomas had premeditated the abduction.
According to their version of events, Thomas willingly left the facility and was received by Hodge at the waiting vehicle.
Initial local reports suggested that Hodge forcibly entered the facility and took Thomas, but this assertion was contradicted by a spokesperson from Quest.
In an attempt to prevent Thomas from escaping, staff members reportedly intervened, but Hodge successfully placed the disabled 23-year-old into the car and quickly left the scene.
The urgency of the situation heightened when it became known that Thomas needed regular medication, which she was taken away without.
Dorothy Thomas was found by the police in Brevard County
After the abduction, the staff immediately dialed 911, and an arrest warrant was issued for Hodge, charging her with suspicion of interfering with custody and neglect of a disabled adult.
Thomas' welfare was the top priority, especially considering her medication needs, having taken a morning dose and another scheduled for the afternoon.
Fortunately, on the same day, Thomas was found in Brevard County, about a 40-minute drive from Orlando.
The timely discovery of Thomas led to the apprehension of Hodge, who was taken into custody and subsequently appeared in court with a shaved head. Details regarding the progression of her case are currently unavailable.
