Video shows healthcare staff punching, beating disabled man with belt

Investigation found at least five employees at the mental health facility beat a man, and allowed other patients to join in.

Author: Andy Pierotti, Lindsey Basye



GORDON, Ga. — The family of a mentally disabled Georgia man has released video showing their loved one being repeatedly beaten by staff hired to care for him.

Brian Jarrad, the family's attorney, said the family wanted to release video of the 2013 incident now to warn the public that neglect is happening at facilities all across Georgia.

“These are some of our most weakest, our most vulnerable citizens. So, it’s important to know and watch and to see when they’re not being cared for appropriately,” said Jarrard.

The Macon attorney represents 55-year-old Joey Cason. When Cason’s family could no longer care for him, they admitted him into Total Care, a facility in Gordan, Georgia, licensed to care for the developmentally disabled.

“Physically, he is not disabled. He is able to function physically, but he is severely mentally disabled," explained Jarrard.

Surveillance video recorded on November 7, 2013 shows staff repeatedly hitting Cason with belts, punching him on the ground and allowing other residents to hit him.

At one point, staff appears to be taunting Cason with food and laughing at him.



“I think anybody would find the video despicable,” said Jarrard. “It was heartbreaking. It made me angry to think of individuals who were being paid to care for him were engaged in just despicable abuse.”

Gordon Police charged a caretaker named Shakia Smith with battery and abuse/neglect of an elder person.

Jarrard said the case against the former facility owner is still pending. Carson is now at a different facility in south Georgia and is doing well, Jarrad said.

The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities revoked the facility’s license after an investigation.

Total Care’s former owner, Pamela Reaves, declined to comment about the pending litigation. Her attorney, Wayne Kendall, did not return follow-up questions sent by email.

The video’s release comes on the heels of Georgia seeking to end nearly 10 years of federal supervision of its mental health care services. The Reveal Investigation also uncovered a rise in abuse, neglect and exploitation at state licensed mental health care providers.

Tune into 11Alive Thursday night at 11 p.m. for The Reveal's investigation into Georgia mental health providers and other abuse claims against facilities across the state.

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Video shows healthcare staff punching, beating disabled man with belt

Son must stay away from mother after he’s charged with battery, exploiting elderly

Michael McDuffie\ Muscogee County Sheriff's Office

A Columbus man pleaded not guilty to entering his mother’s apartment and knocking her to the floor during a dispute, an officer testified Friday in Recorder’s Court .

Michael McDuffie, 43, of Columbus faces one count of exploitation and intimidation of disabled adults, elderly persons, battery family violence, criminal trespassing and theft by taking. Judge Julius Hunter ordered McDuffie held in the Muscogee County Jail on bonds totaling $12,500 and bound the charges over to Superior Court. If McDuffie is able to make bond, Hunter said he must stay away from his mother and have no contact with her.

Officer Jerry Yarbrough said he was called to the 676 Sixth Ave. apartment of the 66-year-old mother about an 11:45 a.m. attack on Aug. 22. She was injured on her legs and arms. The son had moved out of the apartment because mother had constant problems with him.

The mother told the officer that her son entered the apartment after she left her side door open to let some air inside. She was knocked to the floor, causing her to strike her head on a TV stand. The victim also said she was struck with a floor fan.

The son is accused of going into her room and taking her keys. She was trying to make a call on her cell phone before it was snatched from her hand and thrown across the room, damaging the screen on the phone.

Yarbrough said McDuffie was taken into custody Wednesday by officers on Cusseta Road near 25th Avenue.

McDuffie was represented by public defender Robin King but he didn’t testify. Seeking a bond, King noted the suspect’s mother wasn’t treated by emergency medical services personnel at the scene.

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Son must stay away from mother after he’s charged with battery, exploiting elderly

Authorities arrest nursing home employee

Dianne Haddock Burton

A 54-year-old Milledgeville nursing home employee has been arrested by local authorities in connection to a March 15 incident where an elderly resident was hit in the mouth.

The case had been under investigation by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office since the alleged crime took place.

Detective Chris Burrell identified the suspect as Dianne Haddock Burton, of 182 Helen Circle, was taken into custody about 2 p.m. Tuesday at a residence by Deputy Chanda Hogan.

Burton was being sought on outstanding felony warrants on charges of battery involving an elderly person and exploitation or deprivation of a disabled or elderly person over the age of 65, Burrell said.

After being arrested, Burton was taken to the Baldwin County Law Enforcement Center where she was jailed on the charges. 

Burrell said his investigation revealed the victim told several employees at Chaplinwood Nursing Home, located at 385 Allen Memorial Drive, what had happened to her.

“The victim said the woman who took care of her at nighttime struck her in the face when she was trying to change her clothes,” Burrell said. “The CNA was trying to put dirty pants on her.”

At the time, Burton was working a 12-hour shift as a CNA, Burrell told The Union-Recorder.

The case detective said he secured the warrants for Burton’s arrest on Monday.

“She was already out on bond at the time of this last arrest,” Burrell said.

Burton had previously been arrested by Deputy Crystal Washington on charges of simple battery and three counts of cruelty to children in the third degree following a recent physical altercation with her niece, Burrell said.

“She was released after bonding out on March 13 and went to work around 1700 hrs. (5 p.m.),” Burrell said. “The incident at the nursing home happened on the morning of March 15.”

The victim said she was hit in the mouth by a woman who worked at the nursing home between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. on March 15, Burrell said.

The detective said he later learned that Burton was working and responsible for the victim’s care at the time of the alleged crime.

After several employees of the nursing home were made aware of what had happened, the incident was immediately looked into by administrator Meredith Ransom.

Subsequently, efforts were made to reach Burton by telephone, but such attempts failed.

About two hours later, Burton talked with nursing home officials pertaining to the incident, Burrell said.

During a conversation that Burton had with Ransom, Burrell said Burton told the nursing home administrator her account of the incident was that the resident leaned up and bumped her  elbow onto her mouth.

“She also told a nurse that there was some pinkness and redness around the victim’s mouth,” Burrell said. “She didn’t tell the nurse that there had been physical contact.”

The victim told multiple people on the staff at the nursing home that she was struck in the face by an employee at the nursing home, Burrell said.

The detective said when he went to the nursing home and talked with the victim he noticed significantly more bruising than he had seen in a photograph of the victim that had been taken earlier by Hogan.

“I do not believe it was just an accidental bump from her (victim’s) elbow,” Burrell said.

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Authorities arrest nursing home employee