Two workers at a South Carolina support facility left a vulnerable adult strapped to a toilet for approximately an hour with a leaking feeding tube without intervening, according to charges filed by the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division.
Angela Peterson, 46, a registered nurse, and Sherika Myles, 41, a direct support professional, are each charged with neglect of a vulnerable adult. Both were booked into the Dorchester County Detention Center but have since been released, records show.
Background
The incident occurred on May 20 at the Coastal Regional Center in Summerville, South Carolina, located approximately 25 miles from Charleston. The facility is operated by the Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities under the South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (BHDD). According to warrants reviewed by Law&Crime, Peterson and Myles were assigned to care for a vulnerable adult resident at the facility.
Court documents allege that someone had strapped the victim to a toilet with a G-tube, medically known as a gastrostomy tube. This medical device provides direct access for supplemental feeding, hydration, or medicine administration. The tube began leaking, a condition Peterson allegedly recognized.
Instead of seeking immediate assistance, Peterson reportedly wrapped a towel around the G-tube and waited until the next shift nurse arrived—an hour later—to address the issue, according to authorities.
The Investigation
Myles was assigned to check on the victim every five minutes during this time, warrants state. Investigators allege she failed to fulfill this responsibility adequately. During the incident, the victim fell while still strapped to the toilet and was discovered "in a squatted position on the floor in front of the toilet, still strapped in," according to court documents.
SLED officers investigated the case, conducting interviews with staff and reviewing surveillance footage that corroborated the alleged timeline of events. The agency presented its findings to local prosecutors before charges were authorized.
The South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities confirmed awareness of "two recent arrests following an allegation of neglect at Coastal Regional Center" in a statement provided to regional media outlet WCSC. The department stated it requested SLED's investigation and is cooperating fully with law enforcement.
Key Takeaways
- Angela Peterson, 46, and Sherika Myles, 41, face charges of vulnerable adult neglect in Dorchester County, South Carolina
- Both were released from custody after booking; their next court appearance has not yet been scheduled publicly
- The incident occurred May 20 at the Coastal Regional Center in Summerville, operated by the state Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
- Investigators allege Peterson waited an hour before seeking help for a leaking G-tube on a strapped patient
- SLED's investigation included witness interviews and surveillance footage review that supported the timeline outlined in arrest warrants
What's Next
Peterson and Myles are expected to appear in Dorchester County court at a date yet to be determined. SLED continues to cooperate with prosecutors as the case moves through the judicial system. BHDD officials have indicated additional information will be released through law enforcement channels rather than directly, citing the active nature of proceedings.
The Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities has not announced whether any personnel changes or facility policy modifications have resulted from this incident.