DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A mother whose 7-year-old daughter was found dead in a closet made her first appearance in court on Wednesday.
Alondra Hobbs' initial hearing was pushed back after DeKalb Police said 11Alive she was in the hospital. The department did not provide an update on why she was admitted.
“Alondra Denise Hobbs come to the podium please,” said Judge Williams as she called Hobbs to address the court.
The mother, who is 27, is charged with felony murder and second-degree cruelty in Alivia Hobbs-Jordan's death. The child's body was described by the man who found her as looking like a "mummy."
This proceeding covered the charges against Hobbs.
“She’s charged with two warrants, do you wave the reading of the charges in particular two these warrants,” said Judge Williams to Hobbs' attorney, Ryan Bozarth.
“We do waive the reading,” Bozarth responded.
Records show Hobbs likely left her child in the closet sometime between Feb. 28 and June 25. Prosecutors said Hobbs put the child in a stroller and rolled her into the closet where the 7-year-old was found dead last week. According to the warrants, Hobbs shut the child in the closet and left the apartment "with no intention of returning."
11Alive spoke to the man who made the grisly discovery last week. He's a neighbor who asked to remain anonymous. He said he was walking back from a friend’s place Sunday around 4 p.m. when he noticed the front door to an apartment "wide open" in one of the buildings at Hidden Valley Apartments. The apartments sit back off Candler Road along Misty Waters Drive.
He said something seemed off about the doors being open and said he could smell a foul odor as he got closer. As he entered the one-bedroom apartment, he said the lights were off, and it was obvious no one was home. He said all the furniture was still inside, and things were left on the counter as if someone "left in a hurry."
The man said he walked back to the bedroom and noticed the door to the closet was open, and something was hanging out of the door. He said it was a human arm.
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The details of the case have Hobbs' mother, Tammy Blassingame, in disbelief. The little girl had autism.
“Even though she had autism, but that was my baby, you know, I would’ve never thought my daughter would do something like this," said Blassingame.
In a previous interview with 11Alive, Blassingame said she remains distraught by the entire situation. Hobbs' aunt, Latrice Robinson, who also spoke to 11Alive said they were told the child was with her dad’s family.
“She was suppose to be with the daddy’s mom at her dad's mom's house, that’s where Alivia was supposed to be. Alivia wasn’t suppose to be in no closet,” Robinson said.
During the conversation, the aunt and mom said when they would ask to go visit the children, Hobbs would make up excuses or change the subject.
During the proceedings, the judge couldn’t set a bond for Hobbs and instead transferred the case to the superior court to handle that matter. Until then, Hobbs will remain at the DeKalb jail. No date has been set yet for her probable cause hearing.
Loved ones are working to raise funds for Alivia's memorial. Those who'd like to contribute can do so here.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the name of the mother of the suspect.