UPDATE 1:56 pm: A spokesperson with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office gave the following statement: “We cannot confirm whether the Nintendo Switch was or was not taken from Depa prior to his attack on the paraprofessional.”
PALM COAST – Joan Naydich, the paraprofessional who was hospitalized after an attack by a student in her care, released a statement on Monday updating the public on her condition. Most notable in the update, aside from the knowledge she was lucid, was an assertion that prior reports of her confiscating the student’s Nintendo Switch video game were false.
The story of Naydich confiscating the student’s Switch was first reported by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office to the county’s various media outlets, all of whom reported it. The FCSO’s arrest report for suspect Brendon Depa also includes a statement made by him that Naydich confiscated it, as relayed by school resource deputy Dennis King. Both in the news release and arrest report, this element of the incident was attributed to Depa and not described as a matter of fact.
“For all you keyboard warriors, I just want to set the record straight,” Naydich said. “I never took the Nintendo Switch from him. From anyone that’s read or heard differently, I’ve been told this was unfortunately misinformation.”
Read More: Student Behind MHS Paraprofessional Attack Charged as an Adult
The update was posted to the GoFundMe page set up for her medical expenses. It was posted by organizer Jessica White Leon, who got it from Naydich herself. As of Wednesday morning the fund has received close to its ambitious $80,000 goal.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has been contacted by AskFlagler for comment on the dispute, and this report will be updated upon their response.
Naydich’s full update read as follows:
Overwhelmed with the idea of the long fight ahead…
Your contributions are lessening that burden and I’m truly grateful! I’m hopeful that the awareness of this incident being spread far and wide will prevent anyone else from ever dealing with the trauma, physical healing and disruption of everyday life that this has caused. It’s touching to know that so many care. This certainly wasn’t how I saw my son’s senior year turning out for our family.
For all you keyboard warriors, I just want to set the record straight. I never took the Nintendo Switch from him. From anyone that’s read or heard differently, I’ve been told this was unfortunately misinformation.
As the process continues, there will be many updates along the way! Your thoughts and prayers through all of this are appreciated more than you know.
-Joan
