Posted on 12/05/2007 2:54:30 PM PST by SwinneySwitch
McALLEN — The employer of a Rio Grande City woman accused of locking a teenager in her office and holding him for ransom said Tuesday he was shocked to learn of the allegations against her.
Orlando Julian, director of operations for 1st Choice Provider Services Inc., maintained his company had no knowledge of the 15-year-old Mexican national Odilia Svenningsen allegedly held in the business’s Starr County office for two days.
1st Choice offers home healthcare services to clients across the Rio Grande Valley.
“We had no idea what was going on there,” he said. “She will not be working with the company anymore.”
Rio Grande City police arrested Svenningsen, 53, on Saturday after the teen identified her as his captor.
He told officers that he had paid a coyote to smuggle him across the Rio Grande days earlier, but that Svenningsen locked him up in the company’s building on the 200 block of East Fifth Street and demanded $200.
Officers rescued the Mexican national early Saturday morning, after noticing lights in the building flickering on and off after office hours and his hand pressed against the window through the blinds.
Svenningsen was charged with unlawful restraint later that day and released on a personal recognizance bond.
Although two women inside the office building Monday denied knowing Svenningsen and said she had never worked there, Julian confirmed she had been employed by 1st Choice for more than five years and ran the company’s Rio Grande City office.
The home healthcare service had heard rumors that Svenningsen had been involved in illegal activity before, but had not received substantial evidence of criminal acts until this weekend, Julian said.
Rio Grande City police and U.S. Border Patrol agents rescued 31 illegal immigrants from Svenningsen’s downtown home during a raid last month. However, she was never arrested in connection with that case.
“Some people were saying she had a bad reputation,” Julian said. “But obviously, you can’t take any action based on rumors.”
1st Choice has vowed to cooperate with authorities on their investigation. But as of Tuesday afternoon police had not heard from or been able to reach company representatives, Rio Grande City police Detective Osdy Luna said. ____
Jeremy Roebuck covers courts, law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4437.
No way!
i’m shocked i tell you. shocked!
Odilia Svenningsen is one bizarre Mexican name.
Ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
That was what I was thinking until I read it again. That isn't the mexican kid's name, it's the name of the woman who held him.
Alriiiiiiiiiiiiighty then, exactly WHAT PART of Mexico is this person from?
The Swedish part.
To the author of the article, commas are your friend.
The Swedish Coastal area.................
Ever had lutefisk with jalepenos?
MMMMM MMMMMM good.
I’d have to replace my stomach and rectum to eat that, dude. No mas, Jose.
ping
Actually, her maiden name is Alvarez. She married a Norwegian/Hispanic individual which resulted in a divorce; however, she kept the last name.
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