Woman accused of dousing autistic student with scalding water in Mount Dora

MOUNT DORA, Fla. — Authorities said a woman was caught on camera attacking a student at an educational center for special needs children.

Deputies said 35-year-old Kenyatta Hill is out on bond after she was accused of throwing a cup full of scalding hot water on a young autistic man.

Channel 9 learned Hill was fired from the Carlton Palms Education Center in Mount Dora immediately after her arrest.

Investigators said the incident was caught on a security camera Jan. 8 and that Hill can be seen filling a cup with 165-degree water and then dousing the disabled man.

"Other staff members noticed him acting out of the ordinary and that's when it was discovered he had these injuries," said Sgt. Jim Vachon of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

In a statement, a school spokesman said Carlton Palms has a zero-tolerance policy and that after learning about the accusations, they went to the sheriff's office.

Deputies said the 21-year-old alleged victim was a non-verbal autistic student who suffered second-degree burns and blisters to his upper body.

"She filled a cup with hot water from a dispenser and threw that on the victim. It caused second-degree burns on his chest and arms," said Vachon.

A company spokesman told Channel 9 they're fully cooperating with the investigation.

In the meantime, Channel 9's Anthony DiLorenzo found at least three employees at the education center have been arrested in the past and even more allegations of abuse have raised a red flag at state agencies.

In 2012, Andre Mays was arrested for beating a disabled man with a belt.

Later that year, Reginald Waters was accused of kicking and choking a boy.

Off camera, the corporations said it does extensive background checks.

WFTV