Catherine Bedy at the Heart of Two Disturbing Child Abuse Incidents

Catherine Bedy, a manager at the Suncoast Center for Community Health, and Veronica Lortz, a therapist at the same institution, found themselves in the midst of severe child abuse charges in 2023. Their arrest followed a deeply distressing incident involving a 10-year-old boy that posed a serious breach of trust within a facility dedicated to safeguarding the mental health of children.

According to Tampa Bay Times, the dramatic scene played out at the Suncoast Center when a young boy entered an office and ignored Bedy’s inquiries. This led to a rapid escalation in which Bedy is alleged to have forcibly pushed the boy to the ground and placed both knees on his chest, causing him to struggle for breath. Despite his evident distress, Bedy was dismissive of his pleas for help.

In a horrifying continuation, Lortz is reported to have covered the boy’s face with a white towel, completely ignoring his calls for aid. Other employees, who witnessed this shocking incident, promptly called the police, leading to the arrest of both Bedy and Lortz, with each facing a felony count of child abuse.

The Suncoast Center, a St. Petersburg-based nonprofit organization offering mental health services to children, terminated both employees in response to the incident. Barbara Daire, Suncoast’s Chief Executive, expressed deep regret over the situation, acknowledging that the incident occurred despite the presence of several protective measures.

The name Catherine Bedy resurfaced in another case associated with the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital lawsuit involving a minor, Maya Kowalski. The heartbreaking saga of Maya, a 17-year-old girl unlawfully detained and allegedly mistreated at the hospital, leading to her mother’s suicide, was covered in a Netflix documentary titled “Take Care of Maya.”

Bedy, previously associated with the Suncoast Center, was implicated in the lawsuit for her part in a distressing event involving Maya. Bedy was accused of forcibly removing Maya’s clothes and photographing her without consent on the eve of Maya’s first meeting with her mother after a long separation. Court records cite multiple instances of inappropriate behavior by Bedy, indicating repeated violations of Maya’s personal space.

These allegations against Bedy, both during her tenure at Suncoast Center and in Maya’s case, paint a grim picture of her professional conduct. The incidents cast doubt on the Suncoast Center’s operation and the behavior of its staff, raising critical questions about the safety and well-being of the children under its care.

Suncoast, operational for several years and generally well-regarded, has been rocked by these incidents. The center conducted an internal investigation, resulting in the termination of both Bedy and Lortz. The Florida Department of Children and Families, which provided $9.4 million in funding to the Suncoast Center over the past three years, underscores the magnitude of the trust placed in the center and the gravity of the alleged abuse.

Maya’s case has sparked intense debate about the treatment of children in healthcare facilities, calling for increased oversight and tighter regulations. The ongoing lawsuit seeks not only justice for Maya and her family but also to ensure the prevention of such tragic incidents in the future. As stated by the Kowalski family’s attorney, the aim is to “incentivize them not to do something like this again,” signaling a hope for significant change in the wake of such a calamity.