A Florida caretaker has been accused of kidnapping a former patient after her facility was closed because the kidnapped woman’s sister died in her care.
Deborah Benita Hodge, 57, is said to have intercepted the transfer of her former patients to a new facility on October 27 and taken the “severely disabled” Dorothy Thomas, 23, into her care.
Hodge previously ran a facility for disabled adults from her home in Orlando, Florida, until it closed in August after Thomas’ sister, also a patient, died and an investigation was launched.
The state investigation found that Hodge’s group home “posed a threat to the health, safety or welfare of the facility’s residents.”
As Thomas and others prepared to move from Quest Training Center to a new facility last Friday, the disabled woman ran to a car waiting for her on the street in what staff believe was a planned kidnapping.
Thomas was found and taken back into custody the same day, and Hodge was arrested Wednesday on charges of interference with guardianship and neglect of an adult with a disability.
Deborah Benita Hodge, 57, was arrested Wednesday after allegedly kidnapping a disabled former patient from another facility
23-year-old Dorothy Thomas, described by officials as “severely disabled,” was allegedly kidnapped on October 27 but was found later that day
Hodge ran a care center for the disabled from her home in Orlando, Florida, until it closed in August when Thomas’ sister, a patient, died in her care
The saga, which led to Hodge allegedly kidnapping her former patient, came after she also attempted to gain guardianship of Thomas, with her request being rejected by a judge.
In August, Thomas’ sister died while under Hodge’s care, sparking an investigation that led to her facility being closed and all patients being transferred to the Omelda Home Care Center.
The patients were then transferred to the Quest Training Center in Apopka, Florida, last week, and during the check-in process, staff spotted a maroon SUV parked nearby, according to an arrest warrant for Hodge.
The arrest warrant states that the car’s presence was not taken into account in the slightest because case workers often visit their patients on a regular basis at the facility.
A Quest Training Center spokesperson told WFTV that the facility believes Hodge and Thomas planned the kidnapping in advance because Thomas voluntarily ran out the door and was greeted by Hodge at the waiting vehicle.
Local reports initially claimed that Hodge ran into the facility and kidnapped Thomas himself, but this was denied by the Quest spokesman.
The search for Thomas escalated when it emerged that she had allegedly been kidnapped without her regular medication
Thomas was allegedly kidnapped from the Quest Training Center on October 27th
Hodge, pictured in court after her arrest, is accused of interference with guardianship and neglect of an adult with a disability
Although employees reportedly tried to stop the disabled woman from escaping, Hodge allegedly grabbed the 23-year-old inside and sped away.
The search for Thomas became more urgent when it emerged she needed to take medication regularly but was removed from care without her medication.
Quest reportedly told officers that she had taken her medication that morning, but that she was supposed to take another medication the afternoon she was allegedly abducted.
Staff called 911 and a warrant was issued for Hodge’s arrest on suspicion of interference with custody and neglect of a disabled adult, court documents show.
Fortunately, Thomas was found that same afternoon in Brevard County, about a 40-minute drive from Orlando, and Hodge was taken into custody on Wednesday.
She was seen with a shaved head when she appeared in court, but information about the outcome of her case was not immediately available.