Florida Nurse Arrested For Allegedly Abusing Disabled Teenager

A home health nurse in Florida is facing charges for allegedly abusing a disabled teenager after being captured on the family’s security cameras, police said.

The St. Cloud Police Department said Nia Ayers, 24, allegedly abused an 18-year-old patient “whose medical condition leaves her unable to defend herself.” The teen’s mother noticed “cuts and scrapes” on her mouth and eyelids, prompting her to check the home security video and contact police.

Ayers was captured on the video repeatedly taping the victim’s mouth shut and then ripping the tape off, holding a washcloth to cover the girl’s mouth, and shaking the nonverbal patient’s BiPAP breathing machine while the device was connected to the patient’s nose,” police said.

Police said that after they obtained a warrant for her arrest, Ayers turned herself in Wednesday night. She was booked into the Osceola County Department of Corrections Thursday morning on a charge of aggravated abuse of the elderly or disabled.

The victim in this case is completely unable to defend herself or cry out for help,” said Chief of Police Douglas Goerke. “This is a truly heinous act, and we are concerned there may be other victims.

Police are asking anyone who would like to report suspicious or abusive acts by Ayers to contact the Criminal Investigations Unit at (407) 891-6700.