Crime & Safety

Parents Catch Caregiver Beating Disabled Child on Video

The bedridden boy was allegedly beaten by a 46-year-old Cumberland woman hired through a home care agency.

A 46-year-old Cumberland woman hired to take care of a 9-year-old developmentally disabled Cranston boy is facing charges of felony assault on a person with severe impairments after his parents saw her beating him via a cell phone video monitor while they were out having dinner Monday night, Cranston police said.

Kimberly Faneuf, 46, of 74 Bryant St., Cumberland, reportedly offered no explanation as to why she beat the child, nor did she deny the allegations, said Cranston Police Chief Col. Marco Palombo Jr.

Police said the parents immediately left the restaurant when they saw what was happening and confronted the caretaker. Armed with video evidence of the crime, they called police. Faneuf left the home.

Officers Michael Iacone and Anthony Laquale saw the video, which showed Faneuf grab the child's arm and shake and twist it. It then showed her grab the child's head and the side of his body "at the same time pulling him up into a 90-degree position and then slamming him down on his back on three occasions," Palombo said. "The video also showed her hastily wiping the child's facial area."

The parents found bruises on the boy's forehead and left arm along with a blood spot in his left eye. He also suffered neck and mouth injuries.

The boy was treated and released from Hasbro Children's Hospital.

The parents hired Faneuf through Bayada Home Care, police said, and the company gave police contact information so they could speak with Faneuf.

Faneuf went to police headquarters on Thursday after the Cranston Police Special Victims Unit contacted her. She was arraigned and released on $10,000 personal recognizance and will appear in court on Oct. 7 for a prearraignment conference.

The state Department of Health was notified and is conducting an internal investigation into the matter, Palombo said.


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