ROCKLEDGE, Fla.—A Florida facility for people with disabilities has suspended its CEO amid an investigation into a resident’s pregnancy.
A caregiver at the Rockledge facility has been accused of impregnating the woman, who gave birth in 2015.
Florida Today reports the board of directors of the Bridges Foundation voted unanimously to suspend CEO David Cooke.
The board of directors unanimously voted to suspend David Cooke, who has led the organization for more than 10 years https://t.co/oJy2wBg616
— Florida Today (@Florida_Today) February 15, 2019
Chairwoman Susan Stokes Elmore said a panel of outside experts will review the facility’s policies and develop safeguards to prevent future assaults on residents.
Willie Shorter was charged Feb. 6 with lewd and lascivious battery on a disabled person after DNA evidence linked him with the child. Brevard County court records do not show whether Shorter has an attorney.
Rockledge investigators said they got the evidence to arrest Willie Shorter, a caregiver at Bridges, in February. FDLE said police got the results 6 months earlier. https://t.co/rtJHA3REyR
— Florida Today (@Florida_Today) February 14, 2019
Virginia Caregiver Charged With Rape of ‘Mentally Incapacitated’ Woman Under His Care: Police
A 60-year-old man was arrested on Feb. 12, and charged for allegedly raping and impregnating a mentally incapacitated woman at a Virginia rehabilitation center under his care, according to a police statement.
Fairfax County Police Department said Bernard Betts-King was accused of raping a woman through the use of her mental incapacity in early 2018 at MVLE Community Center in Springfield. DNA confirmed that she had a child as a result of the assault. At the time of the alleged assault, Betts-King was working with the victim as a behavioral specialist.
UPDATE: Springfield man charged with rape; detectives search for additional victims. https://t.co/80b08UzqhW pic.twitter.com/xSF9ey1Idl
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) February 12, 2019
Captain Thea Pirnat with Fairfax County Police Major Crimes told Fox 5 that Betts-King abused his position of trust to rape the 33-year-old birth under his care.
“A family member reported it to us after they took the victim to the doctor and it was learned at that time that she was pregnant. She is a vulnerable adult, she is incapable of giving consent,” Pirnat told the news station.
Investigators were able to use DNA evidence to match the child to Brett-Kind after the victim gave birth.
“We were able to through our investigation look at who had access to this individual. We were eventually able to link it to the arrested subject,” Pirnat added.
Police said in a later update that they now believe they have possibly identified a second potential victim, according to the police statement.
“Same facility, same circumstances. She is a vulnerable adult she is not able to give consent to some cognitive impairment issues and that’s what our concern is,” Pirnat told Fox 5.
Officials said up until his arrest Brett-King was working at another care facility, Community Living Alternatives in Fairfax. Investigators told the news station that they were worried that there were more victims out there.
“This is an extremely sad case. We are concerned that this is potentially a predator that was targeting vulnerable adults so we are asking any individuals that had family members potentially in his control for limited amounts of time,” Pirnat said.
“If they notice behavioral changes, any medical changes with their family members to come forward so we can potentially investigate if there’s a crime there.”
MVLE Community Center said in a statement that they were cooperating with investigators, reported Fox 5. MVLE center is a facility that supports individuals with disabilities, according to its website.
“There is currently a police investigation underway regarding the actions of a former staff member of MVLE. MVLE is taking this situation very seriously. Upon notification by law enforcement, MVLE took immediate action. The staff member in question is no longer employed by the agency,” read a statement from MVLE.
Meanwhile, Community Living Alternatives also released their own statement, saying that they are proactively reviewing their safety procedures and have reached out to law enforcement to assist with their investigation.
“As a safe haven for individuals with intellectual disabilities, there is nothing more important to Community Living Alternatives than ensuring our residents are safe, secure and treated with the respect every person deserves,” the statement read.
The 60-year-old is currently being held without bond at the adult detention center. His preliminary hearing is set for March 26, officials said.
Detectives believe there may be additional victims and are asking for anyone with information to contact them at 703-246-7800. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by visiting http://www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org, or text-a-tip by texting “TIP187” plus your message to CRIMES (274637).
NTD reporter Janita Kan contributed to this report.
