At a Glance
- A home health aide slapped a 5-year-old cerebral palsy patient more than 10 times while the boy lay helpless on his back.
- Surveillance video shows Bruno Valenzuela shaking the child and repeatedly ordering him to “relax.”
- The incident occurred December 20, 2025; Valenzuela was arrested January 15 and fired by Christian Nursing Registry.
- Why it matters: Parents discovered the abuse only after noticing bruises and reviewing home security footage, raising questions about safeguards for vulnerable children in home care.
A New York nurse is facing felony charges after security cameras allegedly captured him striking a disabled child in his care, leaving the 5-year-old bruised and traumatized.
The Abuse Caught on Camera
Bruno Valenzuela, employed by Christian Nursing Registry in Smithtown, was arrested by Suffolk County Police following an investigation that began when the boy’s parents noticed unexplained bruises and a sudden change in their son’s behavior around the aide.
The family checked their home security system and found footage from December 20, 2025, showing Valenzuela slapping the child aggressively in the back and chest, according to a police press release. News 12 Long Island posted a brief clip that appears to show Valenzuela striking the crying boy. A longer review by FOX 5 NY revealed:
- Valenzuela struck the child’s chest more than 10 times while the boy lay flat on his back.
- The nurse picked the child up and shook him left and right.
- Audio captured Valenzuela repeatedly saying “relax, relax” and “just relax.”
The child, diagnosed with cerebral palsy, had been under Valenzuela’s care for approximately three and a half years.
Hospital Visit and Police Report
Two days after the incident, on December 22, 2025, the family took the boy to Stony Brook University Hospital and filed a police report. Special Victims Unit detectives launched an investigation that led to Valenzuela’s arrest on Thursday, January 15.
He was held overnight and charged with:
- Endangering the Welfare of an Incompetent or Physically Disabled Person (class E felony)
- Endangering the Welfare of a Child
Court Appearance and Employment Status
Valenzuela was arraigned Friday, January 16, where he pleaded not guilty to both charges. Court records show he was released under non-monetary conditions. Christian Nursing Registry immediately terminated his employment.
A company spokesperson told FOX NY: “We’ve been here 38 years and this has never happened before. The nurse’s documents were all up-to-date including a background check. He had been with the family for three and a half years. The family continues to use the agency.”
Camille Harlow, director at Christian Nursing Registry, described Valenzuela as “like part of the family” and said the father reviewed past footage and saw no prior issues. “From what we can tell, this was a one-time incident,” Harlow told Greater Long Island. “We’re thinking that he just snapped.”
Ongoing Investigation
Detectives are asking anyone who believes they have a family member who may have been victimized by Valenzuela to contact the Special Victims Section at 631-852-6184.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential, and the hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
