A home health nurse in Suffolk County, New York, was taken into custody this week after family-installed surveillance footage allegedly captured him physically assaulting a 5-year-old boy with special needs. The incident has shocked the local community and raised serious questions about caregiver oversight and child safety.
Surveillance Video Shows Alleged Assault
On December 20, authorities say a nurse employed as a home health aide was recorded slapping and shaking a non-verbal child diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the boy’s Port Jefferson residence. The footage reportedly shows the child crying as the caregiver struck him multiple times on the back and chest, leaving visible bruises.
According to police, the incident came to light only after the boy’s parents grew concerned when they noticed unexplained marks and a change in his behaviour, leading them to review their home security recordings.
Charges Filed and Court Proceedings
The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Bruno Valenzuela, was arrested on January 15 and charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child and Endangering the Welfare of an Incompetent or Physically Disabled Person. After appearing in Suffolk County court, he pleaded not guilty and was released under non-monetary conditions pending further legal proceedings.
Valenzuela had worked with the family for over three years and was considered a trusted caregiver prior to the alleged incident. His employer, a home care provider, confirmed that he has since been terminated and reported to state licensing authorities.
Community and Family Response
The child’s parents, including his father who is an NYPD detective, described their shock and distress upon discovering the footage. The family and local authorities are now urging anyone with additional relevant information to come forward as the investigation continues.
Meanwhile, the home care agency released a statement expressing heartbreak over the situation, stressing that such behaviour was “unprecedented” in their decades of service.
