Caregivers charged with neglecting, abusing woman with Down syndrome in Delaware County, Pennsylvania

The caregivers of a family member with Down syndrome allegedly neglected and physically abused her while she was in their care in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, according to prosecutors.

Yahnae Clegg-Brown, 31, and Naiyr "Hasan" Sanders, 35, were arrested this week on neglect of care dependent person and abuse of care dependent person charges, the Delaware County District Attorney's Office said in a news release.

"This is evil. This is sick," Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse said. "This is not something we see on an everyday basis."

Prosecutors said police were called to a home on Ellis Avenue in the borough of Colwyn on April 25 after getting reports that a minor was seen crying on the front steps of a home. At the time, investigators said it appeared the minor had been locked out of the house for about four hours in 40-degree temperatures amid steady rain. She had been kicked out of her aunt's house, Rouse said.

The victim was later found to be a 20-year-old woman with Down syndrome and diabetes, not a minor, investigators said. Her aunt was appointed her guardian after her father died, Rouse said.

Sanders opened the door and identified himself as Clegg-Brown's boyfriend to a responding police officer, prosecutors said.

The responding police officer found the victim in the back of the house in distress and visibly soaked while holding a trash bag full of clothes, according to the DA's office.

The victim told police she was injured and emergency medical services were called to the scene, prosecutors said. They said the victim had injuries to her right eye, multiple marks on her body and was malnourished. She was taken to the hospital and is now recovering at a safe location, the DA said.

According to the criminal complaint, the victim lost about 50 pounds while living with her aunt, dropping to just 82 pounds.

Investigators said the victim was "systematically underfed and assaulted" during her stay at the Delaware County couple's home.

Clegg-Brown and Sanders allegedly refused to feed the victim and physically assaulted her when they didn't approve of her behavior, according to prosecutors. They kept the victim in a room with bunk beds with no sheets, blankets or pillows and a deteriorating mattress, according to investigators.

"Her Social Security benefits went to the defendants, who refused to feed her," Rouse said. "They would physically abuse her, beat her whenever she was acting out in any sort of way that a normal person or a normal child that was hungry might act out."

The DA's office said video appears to show Sanders pushing the victim down concrete steps and shutting the door in her face. Another video appears to show Sanders punching the victim in the right side of her face, they said.

Authorities also removed a 15-year-old girl, who is the sister of the aunt in custody, from the home.

Rouse said the case exposes gaps in a system designed to protect vulnerable adults.

"Is there room for improvement? Of course," Rouse said. "Should there be more oversight? And does something like this speak to that? Yes, it's true. I understand that everyone's stretched thin."

Clegg-Brown and Sanders were arrested earlier this week and arraigned. A judge set bail at 10% of $250,000. They're being held at George W. Hill Correctional Facility, awaiting a preliminary hearing on July 16.