Four Group Home Employees Caught On Tape Abusing Disabled Women In Florida

Four women have been charged with aggravated abuse for abusing women with disabilities in a group home in Central Florida. 

Jaleyah Wiggins, Carolyn Joe, Breneisha Blunt, and Shenka Hester were arrested for allegedly hurting one of their patients, according to WESH2, local news station. On August 13, the police were called to the group home by an employee regarding injuries to one of the female residents.

The home, which is under the management of Attain Incorporated, an Orlando-based nonprofit with 24 residential homes housing adults with developmental disabilities. 

According to reports, police arrived at the home and found a resident with a cut on her lip and a scrape on her knee. An affidavit recorded the day of the arrests, stated employees said the resident had been ”acting out throughout the day and had sustained some minor injuries” in which employees were forced to use “soft-control” techniques to calm her down.

However, police visited the Attain headquarters and viewed the surveillance tapes from the home, where they “observed four females all engage in the aggravated battery of a disabled adult.”

The affidavit said the video showed the resident being shoved to the ground, with one of the employees placing, “her right foot on the (victim’s) head…placing all of her weight on it…possibly causing great bodily harm.”

Attain’s executive director Craig Cook denied the request to speak on the specifics of the investigation, but he did clear the air stating his agency has no tolerance for abuse.

“I can say that in general, we are actively collaborating with DCF and law enforcement on their investigation. If there was ever a situation where that would be compromised, that would be the utmost concern of ours.”

The Miami Herald reports Blunt, Hester, and Joe were released from jail after posting $10K bail apiece. According to the affidavit, the four Attain employees charged with the abuse have been placed on administrative leave.