LARGO, Fla. — A Pinellas County caregiver is behind bars after detectives uncovered disturbing surveillance footage appearing to show her abusing a non-verbal autistic child under her care.
The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office arrested 38-year-old Shannon Cooper on Wednesday, charging her with child abuse following a month-long investigation that began just days before Christmas.
Detectives say the inquiry started on December 21, 2025, when a father arrived at a group home in Largo to pick up his child. He immediately noticed multiple injuries on the victim, who is non-verbal and diagnosed with autism, and contacted law enforcement.
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When detectives reviewed security footage from inside the facility, they reportedly found evidence of what they described as Cooper “excessively battering” the victim. According to the arrest report, the video captures Cooper pulling the victim by the collar and striking them multiple times without provocation.
Investigators allege the footage also shows Cooper straddling the victim, forcing her full weight down on them, and throwing the victim into furniture. Perhaps most concerning to investigators, Cooper was reportedly seen taking the victim into specific rooms known to lack camera coverage.
The victim sustained visible bruising to the neck and both arms, along with scratches on their face and hands.
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Cooper, a Clearwater resident, was booked into the Pinellas County Jail. Authorities noted that in addition to her role at the Largo group home, she is also employed at Retmus Academy of Learning in St. Petersburg.
The investigation is ongoing.
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