What to Know
The Coastal Regional Center is a residential facility of the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs located in Summerville that serves adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Some residents also have medical and physical needs that require a special team of support personnel for day-to-day activities.
On May 20, 2026, two employees allegedly allowed a vulnerable adult with a leaking gastrostomy tube to sit strapped to a toilet for more than an hour. Sherika Myles, 41, and Angela Peterson, 46, each face felony neglect charges for their alleged involvement with the victim.
Peterson allegedly knew the victim needed help and ignored them.
Court documents obtained by WCSC state that Peterson was a registered nurse working at the facility, and Myles was a direct support professional. On the day of the alleged incident, Peterson reportedly discovered the victim strapped to the toilet with a leaking G-tube. Instead of addressing the issue, she reportedly wrapped a towel around the leaking tube and continued to administer medications to other residents. She apparently waited for more than an hour for a nurse working the next shift to come in to help fix the tube. The victim was strapped to the toilet the entire time.
“Our goal is to provide the very best services to assist all people with disabilities – and their families – in South Carolina. We help meet needs while pursuing possibilities and achieving life goals,” according to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.
Myles allegedly failed to check in on the victim per protocol.
Per the court documents, Myles should have checked on the resident every five minutes according to mandated safety check requirements. The victim allegedly stayed alone for an hour and fell off the toilet. When they were found later that day, they reportedly sat in a squatted position on the floor in front of the toilet.
“She should be ashamed of herself doing something like that to somebody’s mother or father or whatever the case may be how was she feeling somebody done that to her parent or love one she wouldn’t like it much but she apparently enjoyed it,” someone commented online.
Police arrested the women nearly three months later.
According to a statement obtained by WCSC, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division announced the August 11 arrest of Peterson and Myles.
“The South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (BHDD) is aware of two recent arrests following an allegation of neglect at Coastal Regional Center. BHDD requested the investigation and is working closely with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). Because this is an active case, any requests for information or updates should be made directly to SLED. As always, BHDD takes the safety of individuals in our care with the utmost seriousness and will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement.”
They each face one felony count of neglect of a vulnerable adult.
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