Nursing Home Nightmare Caught on Hidden Camera



Published on Oct 30, 2014
WINTER HAVEN (FOX 13) - Two staff members at a nursing home in Winter Haven are facing serious charges after police say video captured them "tormenting" and battering a 76-year-old Alzheimer's patient.

Their names are Yashika Zenobiaha Jones, 28, and Rose Dorlean Blaise, 35. They are certified nursing assistants, or CNAs. Police released video Thursday showing several different incidents.

It was captured by the victim's son, Dale Wilson, who had noticed random bruising on his father. In early October, he set up a hidden camera at the Palm Garden Nursing Home on Cypress Gardens Boulevard.

What he captured was disturbing.

Police cited the video and interviews with other staff members regarding three specific incidents that happened over a time span of three weeks:

On Oct. 7, Jones was rubbing her hands on the victim's face and making punching motions to agitate him. There is another nurse in the room.

On Oct. 16, Blaise appears to lunge at the victim as he gets agitated and flails his arms. In a police report, it says the woman used her legs and feet to stomp on his bare feet or kick him in the leg.

On Oct. 24, Jones again is seen making punching motions at the man. She also grabs his wrists, uses his fist to punch himself in the face, and slapped him in the face, police said.

Jones is facing two counts of battery of an elderly person, though she denied the accusations. Blaise is charged with one count of battery on the elderly; she declined to comment when questioned by detectives.

Both are in the Polk County jail being held without bond.

Palm Healthcare Management put out a statement saying the two employees had been suspended without pay.