Employees of Utah facility for disabled individuals arrested for aggravated abuse

VERNAL, Utah ( ABC4 ) — Three employees of a facility in Vernal, Utah, were arrested on Sept. 6 for allegedly abusing one of the nonverbal residents in the home, according to two affidavits of probable cause filed in Utah’s Eighth District Court.

Two of the employees were identified in documents as Kayla Jeanine Evans, 33, and Ashia Wyasket, 23. The third employee was referenced in both documents, but ABC4.com was unable to obtain documents filed for their arrest.

Evans was arrested on one count of intentional aggravated abuse of a vulnerable adult, a second-degree felony; one count of intentional abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult, a class A misdemeanor; and one count of obstruction of justice, a class A misdemeanor.

Wyasket was arrested on one count of intentional aggravated abuse of a vulnerable adult, a second-degree felony.

According to documents, when cops responded to the scene around 7 p.m. on Sept. 6, they reported seeing a “young male” — later identified as the victim — running back toward the facility.

A witness across the street from the facility told police that the victim was “covered in blood” and appeared to be sobbing when she saw him. When the witness asked the nonverbal victim who had hit him, he reportedly pointed at Evans, who was coming across the street and telling the witness to get away from the victim.

According to documents, another employee in the facility recorded audio of the alleged abuse on Sept. 6. Officers were informed that Wyasket had grabbed a wooden dowel from the kitchen and she and Evans took turns using it to hit the victim multiple times after previously locking him in his room.

Evans was reportedly not supposed to be at the facility after breaking her hand in a previous incident involving the same victim, but the third employee reportedly let Evans and Wyasket into the home and stood by the door when the alleged abuse took place.

Documents said other employees at the facility did not want to report previous abuse — such as when Evans injured her hand — because Wyasket and Evans were in management positions.

After the incident, documents said officers observed blood on the floor and walls of the room after the incident, as well as the victim’s shoes. The victim had several injuries after the incident, including on his face, neck, and chest, according to the affidavits.

All three employees who were involved in the incident on Sept. 6 initially provided false information to officers, according to documents.

Evans and Wyasket said the victim was throwing rocks and throwing a tantrum, but their separate stories were inconsistent. The third employee reportedly said they were not near the bedroom at the time of the incident, but other employees said otherwise.

Both Evans and Wyasket were arrested and booked into the Uintah County Jail on the aforementioned charges.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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