Home nurse taped defenseless patient’s mouth during ‘heinous’ abuse, FL cops say

A home health care nurse committed “heinous” acts of abuse by repeatedly taping her “nonverbal” patient’s mouth, then ripping off the tape, according to police in Florida.

The investigation was prompted by the discovery of injuries to the 18-year-old patient’s face, the St. Cloud Police Department said in a May 8 news release.

Investigators say the victim’s condition “leaves her unable to defend herself.”

“The girl’s mother noticed cuts and scrapes on her daughter’s face, around her mouth, and on her eyelids, which prompted her to review her home camera footage and contact the police,” officials said.

It was discovered the 24-year-old nurse ”repeatedly taping the victim’s mouth shut and then ripping the tape off,” officials said.

The video also showed the nurse held a “washcloth to cover the girl’s mouth” and shook her “breathing machine while the device was connected to the patient’s nose,” officials said.

Nia Ayers turned herself in to police May 7 and was charged with aggravated abuse of the elderly or disabled, police said.

“The victim in this case is completely unable to defend herself or cry out for help,” St. Cloud Chief of Police Douglas Goerke said in the release. “This is a truly heinous act, and we are concerned there may be other victims.”

St. Cloud is about a 30-mile drive southeast from downtown Orlando.