Iowa suspects arrested in New Kent for kidnapping accept plea deal in federal court
Laura Evelene Sorensen (left) and Aldair Hodza (right) accepted a plea deal during federal court proceedings in Richmond that stemmed from a Iowa kidnapping that resulted in their arrest on Jan. 6.
Two Iowa residents who were involved in a kidnapping case that resulted in their arrest in New Kent accepted a plea deal during federal court proceedings on May 1.
Aldair Hodza, 36, and Laura Evelene Sorenson, 31, both entered guilty pleas to one count each of interstate transportation of a person for prostitution, and sex trafficking by force, fraud/or coercion in Richmond.
On Jan. 6, an alert truck driver noticed suspicious activity in the parking lot of the Pilot truck stop on Route 106 near the Interstate 64 Talleysville Interchange around 3 p.m. New Kent sheriff’s dispatchers said the truck driver watched a male subject exit a recreational vehice and enter the truck stop’s convenience store several times over a short span. He said he also spotted a young woman peering out of one of the RV’s windows just before someone inside violently snatched her away.
According to an incident report by state police investigator Stephanie McFall, the suspects permitted officers who arrived on the scene to enter the RV. Under questioning, the suspects said they were on vacation to visit Sorenson’s daughter. But the trooper noted that the alleged victim seemed frightened while showing signs of malnutrition.
McFall took the alleged victim outside where she broke down in tears and begged McFall not to let her return to the RV. She said she was being held against her will and several days had passed since she last had anything to eat or drink. McFall reported the victim also had burns, cuts, and bruises on her body as a result of the suspects’ tactics of intimidation to injure or kill her. The victim also said she was forced to perform oral sex on Hodza, who she called “John” and another unknown man inside the RV as it sat in the Pilot parking lot.
Hodza and Sorenson were both arrested and held without bond. Federal authorities took over the case on Feb. 11 after charges were dropped in New Kent.
Terms of the plea agreement recommended the two suspects serve 35 years on one of the charges, with 10 years on the other count to be served concurrently. The two will serve at least 15 years in prison, as it is the mandatory sentence for the offenses. Formal sentencing is scheduled for August.