Abuse Of Disabled At Pueblo Regional Center Blamed On Paranormal Activity: Serious Allegations Against Staff Members At Home For Disabled

It has been reported by CBS 12 that staff at Pueblo Regional Center are blaming the abuse of disabled residents on paranormal activity. Serious allegations against staff members at the home for disabled is being blamed on ghosts.

As if family members of the victims at Pueblo Regional Center aren’t already upset and angry enough, now they must hear that the staff of Pueblo Regional Center are making claims that ghosts and paranormal activity are to blame for their family members’ abusive care.

The alleged abuse began prior to November, 2015, but as of April, investigators were still finding severe safety problems, and serious incidents are still occurring.

CBS 12 revealed that one staff member traded sexual acts for a soda. Another staff member allegedly burned a resident with a blow dryer in an effort to “raise her body temperature.” While other residents had words carved into their bodies, staff members were scratching their heads and blaming the abuse on paranormal activity.

According to the Washington Times, residents were found with words such as “I’m back,” “die,” and “kill,” on their stomachs and backs, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reports.

The executive director for The Arc of Pueblo, Stephanie Garcia, is appalled by the hideous acts allegedly made by staff members against the disabled residents.

“It’s just outrageous. It makes my skin crawl. It was just unbelievable that in this day and age that people would treat other human beings in this way.”

A federal report made by U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has uncovered many very serious abuses against residents with intellectual disabilities.

Garcia further revealed that the Arc serves as some residents’ legal guardians and is very angry with the staff members who acted in such a disgusting manner.

“We serve as legal guardians for nine individuals currently that are residing at the Pueblo Regional Center.”

It wasn’t until the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) stepped in that Garcia knew the extent of the abuse against the residents at Pueblo Regional Center.

“We first became aware that there was problems after we were informed that the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) did strip searches of every client out there back in April of 2015 and we were appalled. We asked why they would do something so egregious, and the response was that they were looking into allegations of abuse and exploitation of the residents, but they never told us specifically what those allegations were. It wasn’t until we received the report from CMS that we knew the full extent of the abuse that was happening and we were shocked.”

According to KKTV, eight employees at Pueblo Regional Center have been terminated. The Department of Human Resources, who oversees the Pueblo Regional Center, has released a statement in regards to the steps they plan to take in order to improve the care that the residents are receiving.

The state was asked by federal investigators to repay millions of dollars, which was funded by Medicaid during the alleged time of the abuse.

The report made by CMS further recommends that the Pueblo Regional Center refrains from hiring any new staff at this present time, at least until staff turnover is reduced.

Garcia admits that the turnovers at Pueblo Regional Center is outragious.

“The staff turnover we see is continuing to be a huge concern. The number of call-offs they have, and the level of experience of some of the new hires. So intensive training and professional development that needs to continue.”

KKTV has reported that the state does plan to appeal both of these recommendations made by CMS.

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