Vulnerable adult choked to death as health care professional laughed, SC cops say
A woman who worked as a direct support professional at a state-run health care facility was recently arrested after a vulnerable adult in her care died, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
On Tuesday, 22-year-old Florence resident Haven Alyssa Jackson was charged with abuse or neglect resulting in death of a vulnerable adult and abuse of a vulnerable adult, SLED said Thursday in a news release.
The charges stem from a Feb. 1 incident at the Pee Dee Regional Center, according to arrest warrants shared by SLED. The facility is operated for those in need of care from the South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.
On Feb. 1, Jackson was assigned to provide care for the victim, who was not publicly identified by SLED. Jackson’s duty was to ensure the vulnerable adult’s “safety and wellbeing,” an arrest warrant shows.
While eating unapproved food during lunch, the vulnerable adult choked, according to the arrest warrant. Jackson, who knew about the choking, was seen laughing and did not attempt any life-saving measures or interventions, the arrest warrant said.
The vulnerable adult died as a result of choking, according to the arrest warrant.
“Jackson did not perform the mandated 15-minute accountability checks on (the victim) and she falsified the documentation to indicate she did,” the arrest warrant said. “Jackson neglected (the victim) by failing to provide proper care. Therefore, her actions directly resulted in (the victim’s) death.”
The vulnerable adult died after suffering previous abuse at Jackson’s hand multiple times that same day, another arrest warrant showed. That abuse included:
- Jackson forcefully pushing the victim against walls to causing the vulnerable adult to fall
- Jackson forcefully pushing the victim backward causing the vulnerable adult to fall on the floor
- Jackson used her body to block the victim’s movements and force the vulnerable adult to move in specific directions
Jackson was booked into the Florence County Detention Center, according to SLED. No bond has been set and she remains behind bars, jail records show.
SLED said it was asked to investigate the death by the Pee Dee Regional Center. The 12th Circuit Solicitor’s Office will prosecute Jackson, according to the release.
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This story was originally published April 30, 2026 at 1:39 PM with the headline "Vulnerable adult choked to death as health care professional laughed, SC cops say."
