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Warrant: Children witnessed abuse of autistic teen by caretakers

The children of a couple charged with the aggravated assault of a teenager with autism in their care told authorities they witnessed the pair punch and kick the 15-year-old on multiple occasions, according to search warrants obtained Friday.

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Two charged with attempted murder, child abuse, warrants say
RALEIGH, N.C. — The children of a couple charged with the aggravated assault of a teenager with autism in their care told authorities they witnessed the pair punch and kick the 15-year-old on multiple occasions, according to search warrants obtained Friday.

Shatuana Nicole McGee, 42, and Verrone Nicosia O'Neal, 36, both of 3206 Dove Tree Lane, Raleigh, were charged earlier this month with intentional child abuse inflicting serious bodily injury and attempted murder, according to arrest warrants. McGee and O'Neal were providing respite care for the victim.

Search warrants obtained Friday by WRAL News showed that O'Neal and McGee's biological children witnessed the abuse of the 15-year-old. One of the children told officials at the SAFEchild Advocacy Center in Raleigh that O'Neal and McGee once rented a carpet cleaner to clean the victim's blood from the carpet.

O'Neal and McGee were unable to explain how the teen was injured, but multiple doctors at Wake Medical Hospital confirmed the victim's injuries were not self-inflicted, the warrant says.

Previous reports said the victim suffered multiple fractures, bruises to the lower back, had fluid in her lungs, and had massive blood loss and internal bleeding that caused her stomach to swell and become distended.

Both McGee and O’Neal were being held under a $1.5 million bond.

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