VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A DeLand woman is accused of leaving a 3-year-old child who is diagnosed with Down syndrome locked in a dog cage, according to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies said the investigation into Shirlisa Hodge, 39, began when the Department of Children and Families received an anonymous tip that Hodge was neglecting the boy by leaving him locked in a dog cage while she went to pick up her 6-year-old daughter from school.
Hodge initially claimed her husband would watch the victim during his lunch break, but when she was questioned further, she admitted to leaving the boy home alone for approximately 15 minutes at a time but claimed it was not an everyday occurrence, according to the report.
A dog cage was found inside the home, as was a gate that would be placed in front of the child's room when he was left alone, deputies said.
Hodge admitted it was negligent to leave the boy home alone and said she couldn't find anyone to watch him because he is diagnosed with Down syndrome, according to the affidavit. The report did not identify her relationship to the victim.
Deputies said the boy did not have any visible injuries.
Hodge's mother, Shirlean McLellan, said her daughter would never put the child's safety in jeopardy. She also denied that there was a dog cage in the home.
"That is not true, there's no cage. He had a child proof, by law, a child-proof fence across his door," McLellan said.
Neighbor Rose Thomas said she believes Hodge and her husband are good parents who made a mistake.
"They would never mistreat (the children), abuse them. I hope they settle this and get her back over there. And she's a sickly woman, she's in and out of the hospital all the time," Thomas said.
Hodge was arrested Wednesday on a charge of child neglect without great bodily harm.
During a court appearance on Thursday, a judge lowered Hodge's bond from $5,000 to $2,500 since she does not have a criminal record. He also ordered that she have no contact with the victim.