A group home and daycare employee was arrested for child abuse in Central Florida.
Pinellas County Sheriff’s office detectives assigned to the Crimes Against Children Unit recently arrested the group home and daycare employee for Child Abuse.
According to detectives, deputies responded to a child abuse incident at a group home in Largo, after the victim’s father noticed multiple injuries to his non-verbal autistic child during pick up in December 2025. Pinellas County Sheriff’s office said it was a 10-year-old victim.
During the investigation, detectives reviewed surveillance footage from the group home which shows 38-year-old Shannon Cooper, of Clearwater, excessively battering the victim, according to law enforcement. She was seen pulling the victim around by their collar, striking the victim unprovoked multiple times, straddling the victim and forcing her weight upon them, throwing the victim into furniture, and taking the victim into rooms that were known to not have cameras, PCSO stated.
According to local law enforcement, the victim suffered from bruising on their neck, right arm, and left arm, as well as scratches on their face and hands.
Last month, Cooper was arrested and charged with Child Abuse. She was transported to Pinellas County Jail. PCSO also stated she was employed in St. Petersburg.
The investigation continues, according to local law enforcement.
