Facility Alert: Florida Group Home Abuse - Employee Charged After Alleged Assault of Nonverbal Child With Autism Caught on Camera

Disturbing allegations of Florida group home abuse have emerged in Largo, Pinellas County, Florida, where law enforcement says a group home employee violently assaulted a 12-year-old nonverbal child with autism. Authorities allege the abuse was captured on surveillance video and involved repeated, unprovoked acts of violence against a vulnerable child who could not speak up or report the abuse.

Florida Group Home Abuse Allegations in Pinellas County

According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a report on December 21, 2025, after a father noticed visible injuries on his child during pickup from a group home. The child reportedly had bruising on the arms and neck, as well as scratches on the face and hands. Detectives reviewed surveillance footage from inside the group home. According to the sheriff’s office, the video allegedly shows Shannon Cooper, 38, repeatedly battering the child.

The Group Home's Surveillance Footage

Law enforcement alleges the video shows Cooper engaging in multiple acts of abuse, including:

• Pulling the child by the collar

• Striking the child multiple times without provocation

• Straddling the child and placing her body weight on them

• Throwing the child into furniture

• Taking the child into rooms known to not have cameras

Because the child is nonverbal and autistic, investigators noted the victim was unable to report the abuse.

Criminal Charges and Ongoing Investigation

Cooper was arrested on January 21, 2026, and charged with child abuse under Florida Statute § 827.03(2)(c) which states, "A person who knowingly or willfully abuses a child without causing great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement to the child commits a felony of the third degree..."

She was booked into the Pinellas County Jail, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Additional Safety Concerns Loom for Parents

Authorities also disclosed that Cooper is employed at a childcare center in St. Petersburg, Florida named Retmus Academy of Learning, raising additional safety concerns beyond the group home.

Legal Duties and Obligations of Florida Group Homes

Florida law provides explicit protections for persons with developmental disabilities, including children with autism, whether or not they are formal clients of a state agency. Under Florida Statute § 393.13, individuals with developmental disabilities have the right to dignity, humane care, and to be free from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and unnecessary physical restraint.

These protections are especially critical for nonverbal individuals, who cannot report abuse on their own and are entirely dependent on caregivers to act lawfully. The statute also guarantees the right to safe supervision, freedom from harm, and care provided in the least restrictive manner possible, prohibiting physical force, excessive restraint, or punishment disguised as behavior management.

When a group home employee allegedly uses violence, intentionally removes a developmentally disabled individual outside the view of camera coverage, or subjects a child or vulnerable adult to physical harm, it directly violates the rights protected under Florida law and raises serious questions about staff training, supervision, and facility oversight.

The Role of Video Surveillance in Exposing Group Home Abuse

In many Florida group homes, surveillance footage plays a critical role in uncovering abuse. Families should understand when video monitoring is permitted, where cameras are prohibited, and what consent is required under Florida law. For a detailed explanation, see our guide on Florida group home video monitoring and surveillance rules.

FIDJ Holds Florida Group Homes Accountable for Abuse, Neglect, and Wrongful Death

At FIDJ, we hold Florida group homes accountable when children and adults with disabilities are abused by those entrusted with their care. We investigate what went wrong, identify violations of Florida law, and seek accountability when facilities fail to meet their legal obligations.

If your loved one was abused or injured in a Florida group home or residential care setting, contact the attorneys at FIDJ for a free, confidential, no-pressure case review.