Mom Says Video Shows Therapist Beating Her Nonverbal Son During Session and Now Police Are Involved
A Florida mother says she is devastated and demanding justice after discovering disturbing footage that appears to show her young autistic son being physically abused by his therapist.
Diana Hernandez says she trusted a therapy center in West Palm Beach to help her nonverbal son develop communication and behavioral skills. Instead, she says surveillance video revealed something no parent ever wants to see.
According to Hernandez, the video appears to show the therapist throwing objects at her son and striking him with a shoe during a therapy session. The alleged incident is now under investigation and the therapist involved is facing a felony child abuse charge.
A Mother Says Something Immediately Felt Wrong
Hernandez told local reporters that she first realized something was wrong when she picked her son up after a therapy appointment in February.
Her son, who is autistic and nonverbal, appeared visibly shaken.
“He was shaking,” she said when describing the moment she saw him after the session.
When they got home, Hernandez says she began noticing marks on his body.
She reported seeing bruises and what looked like bite marks on his back and ribs, injuries she says could not have happened accidentally.
Concerned and confused, the mother contacted the therapy center and asked to review the surveillance footage from the session.
What she saw left her horrified.
Surveillance Video Shows Disturbing Moments
According to reports, the surveillance video appears to show the therapist interacting with the child inside a therapy room.
At first, the interaction looks normal, with the therapist and child tossing a ball back and forth.
But moments later, the situation escalates.
Investigators say the therapist can be seen throwing objects, including a ball and a shoe, toward the child. At one point, he also appears to strike the boy with a sneaker.
For Hernandez, watching the footage was heartbreaking.
“That’s my biggest fear,” she said. “To see my son get hurt and not be there to protect him.”
Therapist Fired and Facing Criminal Charges
The therapist identified in reports, Reylan Garnier, worked at a therapy center called Maximum Achievers, which provides behavioral services to children with developmental conditions.
After the incident came to light, the center reportedly terminated Garnier’s employment.
Authorities say he now faces a felony child abuse charge related to the alleged incident.
When approached by reporters, Garnier expressed regret and said he had lost control while dealing with a difficult workload.
“I regret everything,” he reportedly said.
The case is still under investigation.
The Mother Says the Center Initially Downplayed What Happened
Hernandez has also accused the therapy center of initially minimizing the situation.
She claims the facility’s owner suggested she should not contact the police after the incident.
That response only made her more determined to speak out.
“You’re supposed to be taking care of my kids,” she said. “I put my kids in your hands.”
The center has since stated it is cooperating with law enforcement.
A Family Now Demanding Accountability
Hernandez says her focus now is making sure the therapist is held responsible and ensuring other children are protected.
She also hopes the story raises awareness about the vulnerability of nonverbal children, who may not be able to explain when something goes wrong.
“I need this man in jail,” she said.
For parents who rely on therapy programs to support children with special needs, the case has struck a nerve online.
Many say the story highlights how much trust families place in caregivers and therapists — and how devastating it can be when that trust is broken.
Source: CBS
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