LARGO, FL — A Pinellas County group home and daycare worker is facing child abuse charges after detectives say surveillance footage showed her violently handling a non-verbal autistic child in her care.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report on December 21 after a father noticed unexplained injuries on his child, who lives at the group home in Largo. Deputies discovered the child had bruising on their neck, right arm, and left arm, along with scratches on their face and hands.
Surveillance Footage Reveals Violent Encounters
According to investigators, video from inside the facility showed 38-year-old Shannon Cooper aggressively pulling the child by their collar, hitting them multiple times without provocation, and forcing them onto the ground. Deputies said Cooper also straddled the child, pressed her weight against them, and threw the child into nearby furniture.
Detectives noted that Cooper brought the child into rooms without cameras several times during the same timeframe, raising further concerns about unrecorded incidents.
Arrest and Charges
Cooper was arrested Wednesday and charged with child abuse. She was booked into the Pinellas County Jail, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies also confirmed Cooper is employed by Retmus Academy of Learning in St. Petersburg, a separate daycare facility. Officials have not commented on her current employment status.
Legal Discussion: What Options Do Families Have?
When allegations of child abuse arise in a daycare or group home, families often face confusion and outrage while searching for answers. To help parents understand their legal rights, our team sat down with Florida abuse lawyer Michael Haggard to discuss how the law responds to daycare negligence, what steps families can take, and how accountability can extend beyond the individual employee involved.
Laurence Banville, Esq.: When a child suffers abuse in a group home or daycare, what legal remedies can a family consider?
Michael Haggard, Esq.: Families can pursue both criminal and civil actions. The criminal case is handled by prosecutors, but the civil case can hold the facility accountable for negligence in hiring, supervision, and training. These claims can also prompt broader safety changes to prevent future harm.
Banville: Are families limited to suing the individual employee?
Haggard: Not at all. The facility or organization may share legal responsibility if they failed to protect the child or ignored warning signs. Florida law allows victims and their families to seek compensation for emotional distress, medical expenses, and long-term care.
Banville: So legal action isn’t just about compensation—it’s also about accountability.
Haggard: Exactly. Cases like this remind every care facility that protecting vulnerable children must come before convenience or cost.
