Harrowing images released by a Florida teacher show the brutal facial injuries that she suffered at the hands of a 270-pound teenage student at the school where she worked as an aide.
The assault incident
In February, Brendan Depa, who was 17 at the time, attacked Joan Naydich at Matanzas High School in Palm Coast, which is 60 miles south of Jacksonville. She had asked him to put down his Nintendo Switch.
The autistic 6-foot-6-inch teen, now 18, was seen punching and kicking the educator in the back and head until she lay on the ground unconscious.
He’s pleading no contest
He pleaded no contest as an adult for first-degree aggravated battery.
Victim pleas…..
As he faces sentencing on January 31, Naydich has called on the judge to give him the maximum 30 years in prison.
Her injuries included five broken ribs, concussion and a loss of hearing.
The new pictures show gashes on the aide’s cheek, bruising around the eyes, one blood shot eye, a dent in her nose and a tear at the back of her ear.
In a new interview with Fox Orlando, Naydich said the worst injuries are internal and that the attack deeply affected her cognitive functions.
Victim impact statement
‘Unfortunately, a lot of my injuries that are not visible I’m going to have for the rest of my life,’ she said.
Her pity situation
Naydich was placed on an unpaid leave of absence shortly after returning to work in August under a different title and has been surviving on charity from the community.
Her revelation comes weeks ahead of a court hearing where Depa is set to be sentenced and Naydich is calling on the former student to be locked up for the maximum of 30 years.
Naydich suffered five broken ribs, a severe concussion and loss of hearing in one of her ears following the attack.
‘I was attacked on February 21st and I feel like I’m just constantly being attacked,’ she told Fox Orlando.
The educator said she has been struggling to get her workers’ compensation case resolved.
