JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville mother claims the adult care facility where her 29-year-old mentally disabled son was living earlier this year betrayed him.
Ana Rodriguez said her son, Michael Rodriguez, suffered severe injuries while at Herlea's Residential Care, and instead of taking him to the hospital, she said workers locked him in his room and let him suffer for more than 14 hours.
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According to court documents, Leathia Bonner, the owner of the facility and Linda Ginn, one of the caregivers, both pleaded guilty to neglecting a disabled person, a third-degree felony.
Ana Rodriguez and her attorney have now filed suit.
Michael Rodriguez may look like a man about to turn 30, but his mother said his mental disabilities have only allowed his brain to reach the age of a toddler.
"He has a disability, emotional disability," she said. "He wasn't supposed to be living past 11."
But Michael Rodriguez pushed on, surpassing that prediction by nearly two decades.
"I love my son and I'd do everything to make sure he's taken care of," Ana Rodriguez said.
She said that's why she couldn't believe what happened to him at Herlea's Residential Care in February.
"Michael, who has emotional and handicap issues, threatened to open the door and jump out of the car," family attorney Curry Pajcic said. "The caregiver laughed at him. She didn't make sure he was buckled up. He was unbuckled. She didn't make sure the car was locked. The door was unlocked. He did jump."
According to court documents, a witness said she saw Ginn pull around, get out of the car and tell Michael Rodriguez to "quit being so dramatic." Instead of calling 911, she drove Michael Rodriguez back to the facility and locked him in his room, according to the documents.
Michael Rodriguez didn't get medical help until the next day. Bonner told Ginn that if she said anything, it could possibly "shut her business down," according to court documents.
Bonner was unavailable for comment by phone Wednesday.
"He couldn't get out of bed himself," Pajcic said. "He couldn't make a decision for himself. He had a fractured and busted arm, he had road rash up and down his body, and 14-18 hours later when another person came in and saw him naked in a urine-soaked bed, with pus coming from his wounds, she immediately took him."
"I trusted the people that were supposed to take care of him, and it wasn't done," Ana Rodriguez said. "I was betrayed, and I hope this never happens again.
"They're supposed to be trained by the group home owner. From my knowledge, she was trained. If she was hired, she was trained, she was capable of taking care of everyone else there. There were six clients. If I trusted the owner, I trusted her to hire the proper person to take care of my child."
Ana Rodriguez is seeking more than $15,000 in damages.
Bonner was placed on probation. Ginn will be sentenced Friday morning.
Ana Rodriguez said her son is doing very well and is in a new facility and has recovered from his injuries.