NORTHEAST FLORIDA STATE HOSPITAL

A patient at Northeast Florida State Hospital faces a second-degree murder charge in the beating death of his roommate at the facility, News4Jax learned Friday.

MACCLENNY, Fla. – The family of a woman being treated at a local mental hospital says she’s being abused and needs help. That’s why her family and others protested outside the facility where Ben Aharon has been since July, after spending time at another mental health facility in Central Florida. But the spokesperson did say the hospital and all state mental health treatment facilities take the care of their residents extremely seriously. DCF officials said any allegations of abuse reported to the Florida Abuse Hotline, even at a state facility like Northeast Florida State Hospital, are thoroughly investigated. Ben Aharon's family, though, said it plans to keep fighting.