"the girls are safe with mom - 4A she will call - J, family knows where she took them - they are lying"
MAY 23, 2007
Mother charged in girls' abduction
Thomas released on $5,000 bond
BY Jenny Thompson
The woman who did not return her two children from a custodial visit for more than two months is free on bond.
Judy Thomas is facing charges of interference with child custody after not returning her daughters, 7-year-old Danette Sarah Thomas and 6-year-old Taylor Bianca Thomas, to her estranged husband, Daniel Thomas of Newton County, following a weekend visitation March 11.
The two children were turned into law enforcement officials Friday after Judy Thomas made arrangements through her attorney to turn herself in and return the girls to their father, Newton County Sheriff's Office Investigator Sharon Stewart said.
Judy Thomas has posted a $5,000 bond. The Thomases had a court date set for Tuesday, but the date was continued in order to assure Judy Thomas could appear.
Danette Thomas and Taylor Thomas were listed on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's Web site. The NCSO and the Lucida Grande Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Daniel Thomas was granted temporary custody of the children last May. He and Judy Thomas are in the midst of a lengthy divorce after separating in September 2005.
Daniel Thomas had a great weekend back with his daughters. He said he took them fishing Saturday.
"They caught more fish than I did," Thomas said. "Usually I catch more, but all I could do was bait the hooks."
They also visited their children's vaulting team at Falconwood Farms and jumped right back in the saddle, literally. The girls missed their competition at the Falconwood Farms' Fest on April 21-22.
Thomas also said he took the girls to church on Sunday and school on Monday. The last day the two attended school was on March 9, the day Judy Thomas picked them up for a weekend visitation.
"Their teachers said they just fit right in again," Thomas said.
He said school officials have told him the time they missed should not affect whether they can advance to the next grade.
