A Critical Examination of State Agency Investigations into ...

As for Jonathan, he had a good evening on October 21. He dressed completelyfor dinner, sat at the table and ate “two helpings of fried chicken, corn on the cob andpotatoe [sic], he had salad and Jell-O as well.” He also engaged in constructive activities.This progress was communicated to Michael Carey by the Residence Manager thatevening. The Residence Manager noted in an internal e-mail that she was making anexception to the new directive of restricted communication with the Careys.Overall, however, Jonathan’s Behavior Specialist told the Inspector General’soffice that she believed that Jonathan, near the end of his stay at Anderson School,“looked sad” and “like he had given up.” She said:He was thin and he just was not, you know, that same boy. He wasn’t thathappy-go-lucky, bouncing-off-the-wall boy, you know, who he was whenhe first came in….That boy was long gone….To say that he was abused atAnderson, I don’t know that I’d say that. Because it’s a matter of …thestaff did not have the wherewithal or the tools to be able to work with himtoward the end.When the Careys learned that their visitation rights were to be suspended, theyobjected. Lisa Carey told the Inspector General, they decided, “We’re going to send aschool bus down…[on] Friday [October 22], picking him up, and he’s never going backthere again. Our decision was firm at that point.”On October 22, prior to Jonathan’s departure from the school, Michael Careycalled Jonathan’s OMRDD Medicaid Service Coordinator. According to the coordinator,he informed her of the alleged abuse, including, “food being withheld, only providinghim with milk or yogurt as a substitute to his meals, spending time in his bedroom nakedand soiled” and their decision to withdraw Jonathan from the school. As required by83