My name is Billy.
I am 40 years old, autistic and do not speak.
I did go to Georgia Pines Decatur Seminole Service Center.
Being autistic, I'm not too good at sitting still
and I hate to be closed up in a room.
I guess I was really bad one day so they put me in a closed room and told this man to make me stay there.
He made me stay in this room for 3 hours by hurting me.
I also went to the bathroom on myself.
They let that man quit his job there and he got in a little trouble.
He's OK now though.
Even though the GBI and the District Attorney said this was a bad crime,
the Grand Jury didn't think it was too bad.
I guess, because I have autism, it was OK for that man to hurt me.
I wish I could talk and tell them it was really bad to me.
No, Billy did not write this.
He can not speak for himself and depends on those around him to speak for him. Unfortunately, the State of Georgia, via Georgia Pines Decatur Seminole Service Center, have failed him and apparently have failed to protect other persons with disabilities.
In the August Grand Jury, Corey Adams was "no billed" for Abuse of a Disabled Adult. Billy's mother is rather upset at that result. She stated Corey Adams should be held accountable for his actions and that he is working with a disabilities program on the Florida State Hospital campus in Chattahoochee.
Billy's family is concerned that others with disabilities have been abused. His mother stated "I am afraid that Corey Adams will hurt another disabled person even worse next time."
This occurred on February 4, 2009. There was no report made by staff on that day, as required by law.
When Billy arrived home on the bus, his home provider noticed his finger was bent and swollen, he had a black eye, and he had wet his pants, which is not typical.
When she helped him off with his clothes she was horrified to see over 60 bruises and marks on his back, arms and abdomen. (Many appear to be pinch marks)
Billy's mother writes
At 8 am the next morning I took Billy to the center and interviewed the director, Carolyn Martin. She said that the person who had been in the room and had abused Billy had left the center. I learned later that he had come back to the center and was allowed to resign. While waiting in the hallway, Billy was slumped over and holding his head.
The director asked me if I thought Billy felt pain. I was taken aback by this question! I said, "Look at him, what do you think? Of course he feels pain". She had an attendant take him to the nurse who gave him Darvecet. From there, I went to the Bainbridge Police Department. (BPS called in the GBI)
Later, I was told that the center had changed their story and now said that Corey Adams was only given charge of Billy over lunch. Mr. Adams denied giving Billy the black eye and several people at the center were now saying that they saw Billy hit himself on the cheek.
I was told that the story change did not matter because Mr. Adams had confessed to bruising Billy 60 times and that was all that was needed to convict him.
Billy does have self abusive behaviors but they are confined to biting his arm or kicking his leg when he is angry or frustrated. I do not for a minute believe that he hit himself in the eye or hurt his finger. He was at home with me for 22 years (now in a group home) and never did anything like that! He is not able to speak and biting his arm when angry is a way of expressing himself!
The reason the story about the bruising has not changed is because from the pictures and incident report you can see that Billy could not have made bruise marks on the middle of his back!
It amazes me that everyone at the center was so sorry and apologetic and truthful the day after it happened and now have done their best to cover up the evidence.
I thought our society had gotten past this kind of treatment of disabled people! I am hoping the public will be outraged! That is the only way anything will change for Billy and for all clients at the center who are apparently viewed as not only less than human but less than animals!
Billy's Story Continues, The Issues
