Dewoody may have more victims after getting off on parole

Dewoody may have more victims after getting off on parole

News 15 has been looking into criminal past of alleged kidnapper--phillip dewoody-- before and after he was released on parole.

Dewoody is accused of kidnapping joyce thomas who was missing since february 26th.

Thomas body was recovered monday in a field just off of i-49 between sunset and opelousas.

News 15s cassie schirm spoke to the detectives on this case who are focusing on what he has done and may have done when he got out.

3 cassie pkg:one opelousas detective describes dewoody as a possible serial rapist.

Since being out on parole on june 10th 2019 phillip dewoody is being investigated for multiple crimes with different women involving rape kidnapping and murder.

According to police, days before joyce thomas disappeared last week , dewoody abducted and assaulted a woman in opelousas.

Her daughter posted to facebook.that woman told police where dewoody took her, which led them to thoma' body.now opelousas police believe there may be more victims. detective michael hidalgo opelousas police sot taking just taking him to his history and what h's been doing yes it would't surprise me if there be other victims. we are asking the public to please if something else occurred that we do't know about to call lynn so we can investigate and follow the information to the state police and the sheriffs office if tha's where it leads.:21 nopolice are investigating a claim where he may have been involved in another ville platte woma's death back in november involving his girlfriend at the time.

Look live cassieafter learning more about dewoodys criminal history this week the hudson family in ville platte believe while he was dating a family member he may have had something to do with her sudden death.

Pkg:"we were close family for mom to mama she was a mom to my mom and her mom to me and m' adrianna hudson says her aunt rebecca frechette known as miss stelly met phillip dewoody through facebook back in october 2019.sot every time you called or she saw his name pop up she was laughing and giggling all over again i mean it was like a little schoolgirl all over againshe told the family she met the man of her dreams even though her family saw red flags with how controlling he was over her.

"she was so in love we took the benefit of the doubt maybe w're just overreacting maybe this person really does love her"" dewoody kept his past a secret.

It was't until the famil's lawyer looked into dewoody past finding out he had multiple names and time in and out of jail.

"he basically told her everything she wanted to hear he was a mess he was a master manipulator and liar h's good at covering his life h's good at covering up his lies and keeping up with them" miss stelly died from sepsis in the hospital but had other injuries as well..now the hudson family believes dewoody had something to do with her death."from the beginning w've had a gut feeling even like i said when we first walked in to see her that morning when she was sick my da's first words were rebecca what did he do to you."

Now the hudson family is left wishing they would have done and said more to protect their loved one."'m sorry 'm sorry crying crying tha's what i would say i just ca't believe this is real "cassie final look live tag detectives are looking into miss stellas incident and the hudson family is now planning to go get an autopsy to rule out foul play.

In ville platte 'm cassie schirm news 15 even more questions arise from this investigation... a big one: how was dewoody able to be released on parole after the first time he kiddnapped someone?

News1's breon martin has that 20-19 hearing on recording... breaking it down for you: brennan: "state your name and doc number for the records...."

Phillip: "my name is phillip dewoody..."

Nordyke: "... phil dewoody; 108485."

Brennan: "do you understand the process?"

Phillip: "yessir, i do."

Dewoody charged with being a 2nd class offender, armed robbery , aggravated escape and 2nd degree kidnapping.... among priors.

Phillip: "i have remorse for the crimes that 've done and the victims that 've done these crimes to..."from 26 to 52 , only on* incident, in that time, he says involving his sexuality and having to protect himself... jones: "well, mr. dewoody... why do't you tell us what was going on with that?"

Phillip: "at that time there, i wanted to let it be known that i am gay, and 've had problems dealing with people that wanted to be involved with me in sexual ways, and i reported that incident to the security and was placed in protection until i could be separated from the people that were in question."

Board members also asking about dewood's extracurricular activity... phillip: "i have done several, denial management, recovery dynamics, going home; staying home... 'm also a pride member.

've done substance abuse, 100 hours of prerelease and angry management and 'm also a current student at ashland university."

.and with programs built for success as lsu data shows, according to defenders, and completing his ged and other educational programs.... it all led to dewoody being admitted to the parole project, which is dedicated to public safety through smart reintegration of returning citizens.

Nordyke: "...h's really made an effort this time.."

The warden acknowledging, as well... booty: "... locked up a longtime and the only trouble h's got into, like he said, protecting himself."

.a vote granting him his freedom with the stipulation that he be moved to texas after compeltion of the program, where is mother and father residejones: "i am prepared to give you a chance and i am confident based on everything we heard that that yo're going to take full advantage of it..."

Pearl: "...i concur with mr. jones, my vote is to grant you the parole because of the wardens comment and i's a good program...."

Jones: ".after the parole project you will go to texas."

Phillip: "yes, i will."

Act 790... states an offender serving 30 years or more will be eligible for parole after serving 20 years of his sentence and reaching age 45.

During the parole hearing... dewoody says most of his incarceration has been focused on art and rehabilitation from the programs offered.... he was released on june 28th of