2 care workers accused of assaulting teenager with special needs

ELIZABETH TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Imagine putting your special needs child in a care home to help. That’s just what Andrew Erickson and his did, only for it to end with their son’s caregivers facing criminal charges.

“He’s a super affectionate kid, he loves music, he loves swimming, he loves being outside,” said Andrew Erickson.

Aiden is just 14 and beloved by his family who just wants to keep him safe.

“He’s severely autistic, he has a dual diagnosis of autism and intellectual disability,” Erickson said.

For the last two years, Aiden was living at a Fayette Resources Care Home in Elizabeth Township. A home Erickson said was supposed to helping his son with his disabilities.

“It’s already difficult when you are in a situation where your trust the people because no one is going to have the same investment the parents have,” Erickson said.

Erickson’s worst fears came true, as police notified him that video evidence had come forth showing two care workers physically and assaulting his son.

“They are paid to provide care and bare minimum make sure he’s safe and for them to have committed violence upon him is unbelievable, words can’t even express how upsetting it is,” Erickson said.

According to the criminal complaint, Cortnee Arnold, 28 and Kaylah Mahone, 24 were seen on video taken by a neighbor cornering Aiden on the front porch, striking him nearly ten times combined and leaving a laceration on his head.

That witness even told police she heard one of the women said “I can whip your expletive” at Aiden. Both are now charged with abuse of a care-dependent person and endangering the welfare of a child.

“This situation is one of our most vulnerable residents we have an expectation that our more vulnerable residents will always be protected especially by their caregivers, so the facts of this case are extremely unsettling,” said Chief Ken Honick with Elizabeth Township Police.

But for both Erickson and police, they are thankful to the neighbor who did step up with video evidence to help bring these charges forward.

“If it wasn’t for the neighbor’s bravery and caring about the situation, we’d be in the dark. Clueless, he would still be in the same situation these two would still be being abusive and may have crossed the path with more children down the line,” Erickson said.

Channel 11 did reach out to Fayette Resources who owns the facility for comment, but did not hear back.

The preliminary hearing for both women was continued until next month and Attorney Justin Ketchel represents Mahone, and he told Channel 11 he did not have a comment.

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