Family remains hopeful missing woman will be found safe

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Detectives from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Missing Persons Unit are seeking a person of interest in the case of missing mother, Tia Bonta.

The person of interest was identified as James Dellofield.

Bonta, 24, of Orlando, was last seen on July 31 when a friend, identified as “JD,” told investigators he picked her up at the Days Inn at Colonial Drive and Alafaya Trail and dropped her off at a residence along Cleburne Road.

Deputies did not say if Dellofield was the friend referenced in a sheriff’s office report.

Investigators said they would like to meet with Dellofield to determine what he might know about Bonta’s disappearance.

Bonta’s father, Kevin, said what his daughter left behind only added to the mystery surrounding her disappearance.

“(Her) cellphone, backpack, clothes, makeup; all left behind, very unlikely. She would have called by now,” Kevin Bonta said.

Her father also said Bonta would have never left her son with his birthday coming up.

"I'm telling you, if she's alive right now, she's wanting to get to her son," Kevin Bonta said. "God, I hope she'd be home for his first birthday.

"That would mean a lot to all of us, you know?"

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Deputies asked Kevin Bonta if he knew of any address on Cleburne Road that his daughter might have gone to and he told them there was a home in the 2800 block that he has picked her up from on occasion, the sheriff’s office report said.

Investigators went to the home but could not find Tia Bonta.

Other attempts at locating the missing woman have been unsuccessful.

That’s good, and bad, her father said.

“They did not find her where some people thought she may have been, which would have been devastating news, but it’s good news because she may still be out there and alive and well,” he said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crimeline at 800 423-TIPS.

Cox Media Group