Abuse at Whitten Center

South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) said two employees at the Whitten Center assisted living facility abused residents. SLED arrested Lila Denise Kerson and Lasheba Tijuandra Turner for an incident on Christmas day in 2022.

According to the arrest warrants, Kerson abused the vulnerable adult. She pushed the victim’s head on the ground, stomped and kicked the victim’s head with her foot. She later bent the victim’s finger back toward their hand. Awful. Horrific.

The arrest warrant said Turner witnessed Kerson harm the victim but did not intervene or report the abuse. Police charged Kerson with abuse of a vulnerable adult. Turner was charged with failure to report abuse and neglect of a vulnerable adult.

SLED said Kerson and Turner were booked at the Laurens County Detention Center.