May 6, 2008 5:48 pm US/Pacific
Mental Health Worker Accused Of Assaulting Patient
SACRAMENTO COUNTY (CBS13) ―
A mental health worker is under arrest in Sacramento accused of doing the unthinkable to a patient.
Investigators say he assaulted a girl described as "gravely disabled."A mental health worker is under arrest in Sacramento accused of doing the unthinkable to a patient.
Investigators say he assaulted a girl described as "gravely disabled."
The alleged attack happened at the Heritage Oaks hospital. After first denying the allegations, the mental health worker agreed to give investigators a sample of his DNA. And police say, it matched the DNA on the disabled girl's body.
The alleged victim, known only as Samantha, is 17-years-old. She was admitted to Heritage Oaks on March 8, "gravely disabled and unable to care for herself."
"She was suffering from some serious mental issues at the time, and basically this person took advantage of someone who could help herself, couldn't defend herself," said Larry Menard, Attorney General's spokesperson.
On the night of March 9, during her second night at the hospital, she said "she was sexually assaulted twice, digitally penetrated once, and had her breast fondled on several occasions," said Menard.
She described her attacker as an "African" male with dark, hair, fade-style, haircut, mustache and an "African" accent. He wore a cologne or aftershave she thought she could identify.
But she didn't need to.
Police say the only "African" man working that area, that night was Sunday Adiefe. He was the person who was supposed to go in and check on her quite frequently -- maybe more than he should have. Adiefe was working that night, as a personal care attendant, on the juvenile floor of the hospital.
"Aw. This is unbelievable, I never would have guessed," said Nathaniel Sapp, assistant apartment manager.
Nathaniel Sapp helps run the Belview Park Apartments where Adefie lives with his young child, right next door to a daycare, and across the street from a park.
"I can't believe it...good personality...I can't believe it," said Teresa Andrade, apartment manager.
Teresa Andrade says Adeife was charismatic. He taught music at his local church and doesn't seem like the kind of person who would rape gravely disabled girl he cared for.
On top of a DNA match, cops say there is surveillance video putting Adiefe at the scene of the crime. With a DNA match, the odds that another African man would have the same DNA profile is one in 250 quadrillion.
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