Florida Nurse Arrested After Security Footage Reveals Abuse of Disabled Teen in Her Care

Nia Ayers, 24, faces aggravated abuse charges after disturbing surveillance footage allegedly showed her mistreating an 18-year-old quadriplegic woman

A Florida home health nurse has been arrested and charged with aggravated abuse of a disabled individual after disturbing home security footage captured her allegedly assaulting an 18-year-old non-verbal quadriplegic woman with cerebral palsy.

Nia Ayers, 24, was taken into custody after turning herself in to St. Cloud Police on May 7. She was formally booked into the Osceola County Department of Corrections the next morning and is currently being held without bond.

According to authorities, Ayers was hired to provide in-home care for the severely disabled young woman, who is entirely non-verbal and physically unable to defend herself. The victim's mother became alarmed after noticing unexplained cuts and abrasions on her daughter’s face, mouth, and eyelids. Her concerns prompted a review of their home security camera footage, which revealed multiple incidents of abuse.

The footage allegedly shows Ayers repeatedly taping the victim’s mouth shut and forcefully ripping the tape off. At other times, she is seen holding a washcloth over the young woman’s mouth and shaking her BiPAP breathing machine while it remained connected to her nose — an act that could have severely disrupted her breathing.

"This is a truly heinous act," said St. Cloud Police Chief Douglas Goerke. "The victim in this case is completely unable to defend herself or cry out for help. We are deeply concerned about the possibility of additional victims."

Police swiftly obtained an arrest warrant following their investigation, which was initiated after the victim’s mother submitted the camera footage to authorities. The investigation remains ongoing.