3 home health care employees abused man with autism: Cops
Share and Follow

Background: Benjamin Tambe (KSAT). Top inset: Tony Israel. Bottom inset: Harrison Odiri (Bexar County Sheriff’s Office).

Three employees of a Texas group home are facing charges for allegedly abusing a 29-year-old man with autism by “smacking him around,” tying him up and forcing medication down his throat.

Tony Israel, 45, is facing a charge of assault against a disabled individual while Benjamin Tambe, 53, and Harrison Odiri, 52, stand accused of unlawful restraint. All three also face a charge of injury to a disabled person with criminal negligence.

More from Law&Crime: ‘One too many’: Preschool teacher erupts in anger at 4-year-old boy with autism because he was throwing crayons at her, cops say

“This is a heartbreaking case,” Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar told reporters at a press conference. “This is an enraging case.”

Salazar described the non-verbal man as “completely helpless” and has likely suffered abuse at the hands of the suspects before during his seven years at the facility.

The investigation began on Thursday when the victim’s father alerted deputies to the abuse at Maofu Home Healthcare in the 7300 block of Highland Drive.

Love true crime? Sign up for our newsletter, The Law&Crime Docket, to get the latest real-life crime stories delivered right to your inbox.

Salazar said the father suspected abuse, so — unbeknownst to staff — he inserted a secret camera inside his son’s bedroom. The sheriff highlighted two videos that allegedly showed abuse. The men were allegedly captured on video trying to get the victim to bed but he was uncooperative and went into a defensive posture. The suspects began “smacking him around” and tied him up with a sweatshirt before forcing him on the bed, cops said.

In the other video, Tambe and Odiri allegedly held him on the ground and squirted some liquid medication into his mouth.

“What we see is nothing short of abuse of this poor, helpless man,” Salazar said. “It’s pretty disgusting to watch the fact that these people who call themselves home health care aides are just abusing this man beyond belief.”

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Controversial FBI Headquarters Relocation Sparks Accusations of ‘Sabotage

Inset left: President Donald Trump speaks at a hearing of the Religious…

Uncovering the Infamous Legacy of Aileen Wuornos: The ‘Damsel of Death’ Who Challenged Stereotypes of Serial Killers

Once known as Florida’s “Damsel of Death,” Aileen Wuornos stands among America’s…

DHS Confesses to Mistakes in Text Record Management: Analyzing the Impact of Erroneous Data Handling

Donald Trump, left, shakes hands with Kristi Noem at a campaign rally…

Lawsuit Alleges Tesla’s Role in Fatal Car Fire Involving Couple

Inset: Jeffrey Bauer and Michelle Bauer (GoFundMe). Background: The crash scene in…

Federal Authorities Report Man’s Threats Against Trump and Secret Service Officers

Left: Andrew Walter Sandvik (Fargo Police Department). Right: President Donald Trump speaks…

Authorities Attribute Child’s Tragic Death to Driver Error in Front of Family

Top inset: Christina McKee and Schyler McKee speaking to reporters on Friday,…

Heart-Wrenching Decision: Father Reports Daughter for Hit-and-Run After Striking Cyclist

Inset left: Vivian Rose Padilla (City of El Paso). Inset right: David…

Shocking Snapchat Feud: Teen’s Deadly Response to Being Blocked Unveiled by Police

Background: The University of Missouri campus in Columbus, Mo. (Google Maps). Inset:…