Prosecutors probe group home accused of abusing an autistic man in Queens, following allegations outlined in a lawsuit.

Prosecutors in Suffolk County, New York, have launched an investigation into a Long Island group home following serious allegations of abuse involving a 26-year-old autistic resident. The inquiry stems from a federal lawsuit filed by the man’s mother, who claims her son endured systemic mistreatment at the Life’s WORC facility in East Islip over a span of two years. The allegations include physical abuse, overmedication, and failure to provide proper care.

The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office confirmed the existence of this “open investigation” on Thursday, coinciding with the filing of the lawsuit in Brooklyn Federal Court. The mother, who seeks to protect her son’s identity, asserts that her nonverbal autistic son, referred to as J.P., has been subjected to severe forms of mistreatment, including physical altercations initiated by staff members. Disturbingly, the lawsuit notes that the allegations persist even after a video surfaced in 2023 showing a staff member kicking J.P., a moment that garnered significant media attention.

Details from the lawsuit reveal a troubling pattern of abuse and negligence. Whistleblowers cited in the document report that staff members routinely punched and kicked J.P. and fabricated incidents where he allegedly harmed himself, which they used to justify maintaining him in a heavily medicated state. The staff’s treatment included physically restraining him in a manner akin to a straitjacket, leaving him bruised and inadequately cared for. A particularly alarming incident led to doctors discovering a metal object in J.P.’s colon following a hospitalization in February 2024.

Additionally, the lawsuit claims that managers at the facility attempted to conceal evidence of abuse by pressuring staff to delete critical footage showing the aforementioned incident of violence. Despite these efforts, the video ultimately was broadcast by News 12 Long Island in June 2023, bringing further attention to the disturbing situation.

Life’s WORC has not yet issued a response to the allegations or the ongoing investigation. Members of the community and advocacy groups are closely monitoring the situation, emphasizing the need for accountability in the treatment of vulnerable individuals.

In a similar instance of misconduct, in 2019, a former staff member at the same group home faced legal consequences for forcing a resident to walk naked on a treadmill, resulting in a serious injury. That case concluded with the staff member pleading guilty and receiving probation.

As the investigation unfolds, the case highlights broader concerns regarding the treatment of individuals with disabilities within such facilities, and advocates continue to call for justice not only for J.P. but for all those who may be subjected to similar abuses in care environments.