Gabrielle Franze, a 28-year-old Orange County Fire Rescue firefighter and paramedic, was arrested on October 3, 2025, on two counts of misdemeanor stalking after Volusia County deputies alleged she had thrown 75 red-stained tampons onto the Deltona lawn of her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend. The charges were dismissed shortly after, and an internal affairs investigation later concluded that the arresting deputy and her supervisor had violated Volusia County Sheriff’s Office policies in connection with the arrest.1Orlando Sentinel. Orange County Firefighter Arrested for Throwing Stained Tampons on Ex’s Lawn
What Deputies Said Happened
On the night of September 29, 2025, shortly after 10:00 p.m., a security camera at a Deltona home recorded a woman jumping from the bed of a dark pickup truck and scattering objects across the yard. The residents woke to find 75 tampons on the lawn, each stained red to look used.2Law & Crime. Firefighter Dumps 75 Tampons in Ex-Boyfriend’s Yard
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office traced the truck through license plate readers to Franze, who had worked for Orange County Fire Rescue since 2019. The ex-boyfriend and his girlfriend told investigators they believed Franze had targeted them because she was upset he was in a new relationship. Deputies said Franze had also been posting about the relationship on social media and speaking negatively about the couple to mutual friends. Franze told investigators that she, her mother, and her aunt had bought the tampons and painted them red.2Law & Crime. Firefighter Dumps 75 Tampons in Ex-Boyfriend’s Yard
She was arrested on Friday, October 3, 2025, and charged with two counts of misdemeanor stalking, one for each victim.1Orlando Sentinel. Orange County Firefighter Arrested for Throwing Stained Tampons on Ex’s Lawn
Why the Stalking Charges Were Dismissed
Franze initially pleaded not guilty, and her defense attorney moved to dismiss, arguing the charging affidavit did not establish a crime.2Law & Crime. Firefighter Dumps 75 Tampons in Ex-Boyfriend’s Yard Not long after the case drew public attention in October 2025, the charges were dismissed.1Orlando Sentinel. Orange County Firefighter Arrested for Throwing Stained Tampons on Ex’s Lawn
The legal problem was straightforward. Florida Statute 784.048 defines misdemeanor stalking as willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly following, harassing, or cyberstalking another person, and it defines “harass” as a course of conduct made up of a series of acts over a period of time showing a continuity of purpose.3The Florida Legislature. Florida Statute 784.048 – Stalking A single incident on a lawn, however strange, does not fit that pattern requirement, and that appears to be the basis on which the case fell apart.
The Deputy Misconduct Finding
A Volusia County Sheriff’s Office internal affairs investigation later found that the deputy who arrested Franze and that deputy’s supervisor had violated department policies and procedures in connection with the arrest.1Orlando Sentinel. Orange County Firefighter Arrested for Throwing Stained Tampons on Ex’s Lawn The specific policies at issue have not been publicly detailed.
Her Job Status
Orange County Fire Rescue placed Franze on paid leave after the arrest, pending a pre-determination hearing.1Orlando Sentinel. Orange County Firefighter Arrested for Throwing Stained Tampons on Ex’s Lawn The department’s standard practice is to relieve a member of duty after an arrest while an internal investigation proceeds.4WESH. Orange County Firefighter Relieved of Duty After Cyberstalking Arrest As of the most recent reporting in mid-2026, the outcome of that hearing had not been publicly disclosed.