ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — A criminal investigation has been launched into alleged abuse at a center that treats autistic people after a woman was seen on video being beaten by workers.
Four workers have been fired from the group home owned by Behavioral Support Services on allegations of misconduct.
Channel 9 has been digging for answers but has been stonewalled by the woman in charge of BSS.
Channel 9’s Anthony DiLorenzo waited for Doris Duan Young to arrive at a scheduled staff meeting so he could ask her about the investigation.
When DiLorenzo tried to confront her she hastily drove away and canceled the conference.
“With the reporting so far, naturally she’s fearful,” said Peter Perley, the chief operating officer of BSS.
Channel 9 first reported on a video that shows a 22-year-old autistic woman being abused by staffers last week.
Raw: Video shows abuse at local group home (Warning: Graphic)
Perley said he believes the video was made intentionally by disgruntled employees.
“It’s disaffected the staff. They’ve been terminated. I don’t know what’s in their minds,” said Perley.
Some of the employees were accused of mishandling thousands of dollars and another was accused of paying a patient for his urine for her drug test.
Amid the firestorm and criminal investigations, the state announced it would stop funding the group homes owned by BSS due to poor care.
WFTV
