March 17, 2006
OH Halts Admissions At Institution Where Resident Was Strangled
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express (subscribe)
FAIRFIELD, OH--The state of Ohio has halted admissions to Fairfield Center after an investigation found the facility has failed to protect its residents from abuse and neglect.
The 9-page report, released Monday, focused on the February 21 strangulation and beating death of 50-year-old Joseph Beaudoin.
Edward "Teddy" Shuman, 20, has been indicted for murder in the case. Shuman reportedly confessed to choking Beaudoin with a belt in the bedroom they shared at the facility, just six days after he was admitted on an "emergency" placement.
The privately run institution, housing 119 people with developmental and other disabilities, was cited for deficiencies in client protection, staff treatment, failure to complete a preliminary evaluation and failure to place people together who were compatible.
The report found that staff failed to adequately monitor Shuman, who has diagnoses of mental retardation, impulse control disorder and mood disorder, and was supposed to be checked visually every 15 to 30 minutes because of a history of aggressive behaviors.
The facility "failed to develop policies and procedures to prevent abuse and neglect" and to monitor Shuman and the 23 other residents who are known to have aggressive or violent behavior.
Fairfield Center also placed Shuman in Beaudoin's room, not based on how they would get along or what they had in common, but on the fact that Beaudoin's room was the only one available. Beaudoin had diagnoses of profound mental retardation, autism, and impulse control disorder, and could not talk.
Shuman, who reportedly has an IQ of 42, is currently being held at a state-operated residential treatment center while it is decided whether he is competent to stand trial for the crime.
The facility has 10 days to respond to the report with a plan for correcting the problems.
Related:
Text of Complaint Investigation (PDF file)
"Fairfield Center faulted in death" (Cincinnati Enquirer)
Posted on March 17, 2006