Caretakers Of Abandoned Quadriplegic Man: "All Of This Seemed Very Quickly To Us To Be Out Of Character."
By Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- The investigation continues into the care of the 21-year-old quadriplegic man abandoned in the woods by his mother last week. KYW Community Affairs reporter Cherri Gregg spoke to the home care company that's been caring for the young man for years.
Spokesman David Totaro says two home care aides from Bayada Healthcare near 24th and Walnut have been looking after Daequan Norman since 2010.
He says they bathed Norman, clothed him, fed him and took him to appointments, spending up to 12 hours a day with him, up to seven days a week.
"We've gotten to know him," Totaro says.
So the aides became alarmed last Tuesday when they showed up and no one was at home.
They called Norman's mother Niya Parler, who said he was with a friend.
"Mom told us that she did not need our services until she notified us further," Totaro says. "All of this seemed very quickly to us to be out of character."
They called the man's doctor, his aunt and police for help, to no avail. Then three days later a man finds Norman lying in the woods, weak, but alive.
"It's a miracle," Totaro said.
The Department of Behavior Health is stepping in to evaluate the care Norman needs. Police say he's still at CHOP, but is doing well and could be released this week.
"We're focused on where this young man might live once he leaves the hospital," says David Kim, spokesperson for the Department of Behavioral Health's Intellectual Disability Services division.
The Department of Behavioral Health is looking to place the young man in a community-based adult facility.
"These are row homes, apartments and houses with 24-hour care available," Kim says.
Norman's 41-year-old mother, Nyia Parler is still hospitalized in Maryland and is likely to be there for at least five more days. Once she's released, she'll be extradited back to Philadelphia where she'll face numerous charges, including attempted murder.