Mom accused of abusing 11 adopted kids

By: Kristen Cosby/ActionNewsJax.com

November 30, 2009

PONTE VEDRA, Fla.-- A Ponte Vedra woman whose adoption agency was shut down twice is now accused of abusing her own 11 adopted kids.

Tedi Hedstrom and her ex- husband have 14 children. They have three grown biological children and 11 adopted kids who still live at home. They adopted their kids from America, China, India and Guatemala.

Hedstrom's husband, Donald, divorced her this month after a 29-year marriage. He got sole custody of the children.

Action News obtained the restraining order Donald Hedstrom filed against her prior to their divorce.

Donald Hedstrom claims in the order Tedi Hedstrom hit their 17 year-old daughter off her crutches. He said she called her kids "orphans" and things "too mean to say". He also said she hit and pushed him.

The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office has a report Hedstrom violated the restraining order by calling her kids from the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club.

Hedstrom ran two adoption agencies out of her Ponte Vedra home- one under a Florida license and later one under a Georgia license. The state shut both down.

The Department of Children and Families told Action News parents complained it took years to get a child and when they finally got one they had many diseases.

Hedstrom's husband later dropped the restraining order, claiming the issue was worked out in family court.

Divorce papers show Hedstrom can see her kids again if she changes her behavior.

Documents show she was Baker Acted earlier this year after taking a large amount of pills.

Tedi Hedstrom's attorney never returned our calls for comment. Her husband's attorney had no comment.