Disabled Woman Dies After Being Tied to Post; Lawsuit Alleges Neglect and Malpractice

Discovery of Nichole Baker Tied Up

• 🚨 On November 23, 2022, police in Wildwood, Florida, responded to a neighbor's report of someone crying for help and found Nichole Baker, a woman with developmental and physical disabilities, tied to a chair in a backyard.
• ⛓️ Nichole was found with her hands tied to a wooden pole with pieces of knotted clothing, in 66-degree weather with a light mist, wearing only a t-shirt, pajama pants, and sneakers.
• 🏥 Despite officers' and paramedics' suggestions for Nichole to go to the hospital, the caretaker, Terresa L. Williams, refused, citing her authority.

Caretaker's Justification and Inconsistencies

• 🗣️ Terresa Williams, owner of the care home "Beyond Expectations," claimed Nicole was restrained because she had become aggressive and out of control, posing a danger to herself and other residents.
• 📅 Desiree, an employee, stated Nicole was only outside for about 30 minutes while other patients were brought inside.
• 📝 However, Williams' statements to law enforcement were inconsistent; she initially claimed the restraint was a common practice for Nicole, but later stated the November 23rd incident was the first and only time it had happened.

Nichole Baker's Death and Autopsy Findings

• 💔 Just days after the initial incident, on November 28, 2022, officers responded to a call reporting Nichole as unresponsive.
• 🚑 EMS providers determined Nichole had been deceased for some time prior to their arrival.
• 💊 An autopsy later revealed that Nichole died from combined drug toxicity, indicating an overdose of medication.

Legal Battle and Lawsuit Allegations

• ⚖️ A lawsuit has been filed by Morgan & Morgan against Terresa L. Williams and Beyond Expectations LLC, alleging medical malpractice, wrongful death, civil imprisonment, and abuse, neglect, and exploitation of a vulnerable adult.
• 🏥 The lawsuit highlights that Nicole, weighing only 91 pounds at her death, was unable to effectively care for or protect herself, having placed her trust in the care home.
• 🚫 A significant allegation is that neither Terresa Williams nor Beyond Expectations staff notified Nichole's family of her passing; the family learned of her death from the funeral home.

Ongoing Litigation and Family's Hope

• 📈 The case is currently in the discovery process, with depositions of parties involved being scheduled.
• 🎗️ Nicole's family is seeking justice and hoping to prevent similar incidents from happening to other vulnerable individuals, emphasizing that their goal is not solely financial compensation but accountability for Terresa Williams, who still holds her nursing license.
• 🏢 The license for the facility, Beyond Expectations, has been revoked, but action against Williams' personal nursing license is pending.