Florida Nurse Arrested for Alleged Abuse of Disabled Woman
A 24-year-old home health nurse from Florida, Nia Ayers, has been arrested for alleged abuse of an 18-year-old woman with disabilities in her care.
Authorities were alerted after disturbing videos from home security cameras showed Ayers engaging in abusive behavior. According to reports from the St. Cloud Police Department, Ayers faces charges of aggravated abuse of a disabled person.
The victim, who cannot speak and has quadriplegia due to cerebral palsy, was reportedly subjected to multiple acts of mistreatment. Surveillance footage captured Ayers taping the young woman’s mouth shut and yanking the tape off afterward. The videos also revealed her covering the woman’s mouth with a washcloth and shaking her breathing machine while it was connected to the victim.
The investigation began when the victim’s mother noticed injuries on her daughter’s face. Concerned, she checked the home’s security footage, which led her to contact the police.
“This is a truly heinous act,” stated St. Cloud Police Chief Douglas Goerke. “The victim in this case is completely unable to defend herself or cry out for help.”
Ayers surrendered to the St. Cloud Police on May 7 and was subsequently booked into the Osceola County Department of Corrections. She is currently being held without bond.
