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John Jenkins, a home health care nurse in Florida, has been arrested for allegedly abusing a disabled patient.
According to WFTV, the investigation into Jenkins was prompted by a battery report filed on February 8. Per the outlet, the report asserted that a witness overheard Jenkins become “verbally aggressive” toward the aforementioned patient who has not been publicly identified on that date.
The witness reportedly confronted Jenkins, who apologized. However, the witness filed the complaint, alerting police that the disabled patient was “unable to speak or walk.” Per WESH, the witness has since been identified as the patient’s mother.
Additionally, the mother informed authorities of having a “gut feeling” about Jenkins, adding that she decided to review home security footage. Per the mother, the footage showed Jenkins “kick[ing] and hit[ting] the disabled victim with [an] iPad.”
Subsequently, the Florida Department of Children and Families opened an investigation into the ordeal. Per the outlet, a case worker ultimately informed the mother that video evidence showed Jenkins allegedly abusing the patient on “25 instances… over the previous week.”
Furthermore, in the clips, John Jenkins could be seen sitting on, throwing items at, punching, and shoving the patient, among other alleged actions.
According to the outlet, an arrest warrant was issued for John Jenkins on February 19. The warrant was reportedly made on four counts of “abuse of a disabled adult.” Furthermore, on February 21, Jenkins was allegedly arrested and booked into the Volusia County Jail.
WFTV reports that the 68-year-old was later released on $40,000 bail.
At this time, it remains unclear when or if Jenkins has a scheduled court date.
“This is a tragic and sickening case of abuse, where a vulnerable adult was taken advantage of by someone entrusted with their care, Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly reportedly stated about the case per WFTV. “We are grateful to the family member who had the foresight to place cameras inside the home, and then quickly reported the ongoing abuse of a disabled adult. Most home healthcare aides and nurses do a great and loving job providing care, but this case highlights the importance of being vigilant about the care your loved ones receive, especially those who cannot speak for themselves.”
A similar incident in Atlanta has also made recent headlines. As The Shade Room previously reported, in January, an Atlanta healthcare worker named Lucrecia Kormassa Koiyan, also known online as Cresha Malu, was charged after footage went viral of her twerking on disabled patients.
The Shade Room’s Justin Carter broke down the shocking footage and Koiyan’s apparent reaction to the public’s outrage on ‘TSR Investigates.‘
