Nationwide — Diana Hernandez, a mother from West Palm Beach, Florida, is seeking justice after her autistic, non-verbal son was allegedly abused at a therapy center. She wants the therapist arrested, and the center held responsible for the incident.
The accused, 38-year-old Reylan Cortes Garnier, turned himself in to authorities on Friday. He now faces a felony abuse charge and is being held at the Palm Beach County Detention Center. Authorities say surveillance video shows Garnier striking Hernandez’s son on the backside and throwing a shoe at him during a session at Maximum Achievers in Lake Clarke Shores.
According to CBS 12, the investigation began on February 23 after police received a report about the alleged abuse. Lake Shores Police, in collaboration with the Palm Beach County State Attorney’s Office, reviewed evidence and interviewed witnesses, which led to Garnier’s identification and arrest.
Surveillance footage shows the child playing with a ball with Garnier before the abuse occurs. The video shows Garnier hitting the child with his sneaker and tossing a ball and shoe at him from close range. Hernandez described watching the footage as heartbreaking. “I honestly wanted it to be a lie. I wanted it to not be true,” she said.
Hernandez first noticed bruises and a bite mark on her son after a session on February 20. She immediately contacted both the therapy center and police. Her son attends Maximum Achievers alongside his twin brother, who works with a different therapist. “He’s traumatized, but I’m just so surprised how strong he is. He’s still smiling.”
She is now demanding that Garnier be jailed and wants the therapy center shut down. “I just want justice for my son,” she said. Maximum Achievers confirmed Garnier was fired and said they are cooperating with law enforcement.
Police say the investigation is ongoing and are asking anyone with information or similar complaints to contact Corporal Dominguez. Nicole Bishop, director of Palm Beach County Victim Services, urged parents to watch for sudden changes in a child’s mood or behavior.
“Children are vulnerable victims, and especially children who have any type of disability, or any people actually with disabilities, they are more susceptible to being harmed by others,” Bishop said. “It is horribly sad to see these things happen in our society.”