A home health nurse based in Saint Cloud, Nia Ayres, has been taken into custody by law enforcement following serious allegations of abuse against a disabled young woman under her care. Ayres is now facing charges of aggravated abuse of a disabled adult, a serious felony offense.
The victim’s mother, still grappling with the shock of the incident, described the situation as deeply disturbing. She revealed that the abuse was captured by their home security system, a sight that left her physically ill. Despite declining to appear on camera due to emotional distress, she expressed her hope that sharing her daughter’s ordeal might serve as a warning for others.
Ayres was arrested on a Wednesday evening. She stands accused of abusing an 18-year-old quadriplegic woman who has cerebral palsy and is non-verbal. The victim’s mother alerted the police after noticing unexplained red scratches around her daughter’s mouth and eyes on May 3.
Chief Douglas confirmed the existence of explicit video evidence that documented the assault. The video reportedly depicts Ayres committing cruel acts, such as taping the victim’s mouth shut and violently removing it, shaking her head and body, and tampering with her breathing equipment, which resulted in a nosebleed. The video also allegedly shows Ayres holding a washcloth over the victim’s mouth for extended periods.
According to the Department of Health records, Ayres has been a licensed practical nurse since 2021, with no previous complaints or disciplinary actions on her record. The victim’s mother, who had entrusted Ayres with her daughter’s care for over a year, now fears that there may have been prior incidents of abuse. She is currently reviewing past footage and promises to seek additional charges if more evidence of misconduct is found.
Ayres was employed by two healthcare companies, both of which have been informed of the allegations. Chief Kirk of the Saint Cloud Police Department is urging the public to provide any additional information and encourages other potential victims or those aware of any such incidents to come forward.
This case highlights the critical need for vigilance and strong systems to protect vulnerable individuals from abuse.