A 33-year-old man accused of viciously attacking a nurse at a Palm Beach County hospital will remain in custody without bond, a judge ruled on Thursday.
Stephen Scantlebury, of Wellington, allegedly assaulted 67-year-old nurse Leelamma Lal at HCA Florida Palms West Hospital last Tuesday, leaving her with severe injuries. Authorities said Lal suffered multiple facial fractures, a broken collarbone, and brain bleeding.
During the pre-trial detention hearing, Palm Beach County Deputy Sgt. Beth Newcomb testified that after the attack, Scantlebury made racist remarks, saying, “Indians are bad” and “I just beat the (expletive) out of an Indian doctor.”
Lal’s daughter, Cindy Joseph, described the extent of her mother’s injuries: “She had subdural and sporadic bleeding of the brain, the right side of her face was fully fractured. … She was intubated and unconscious, a lot of bruising in her face and swelling in her eyes. I didn’t really recognize her.”
The brutal assault, which lasted one to two minutes, was captured on hospital surveillance footage.
Mental health claims and legal proceedings
Scantlebury, a patient at the hospital at the time, was reportedly not receiving treatment for a mental health condition. However, his wife testified in court that he had been experiencing paranoia in the days leading up to the attack, believing their home was bugged and that he was under surveillance.
Defense attorneys requested that he be transferred to a mental health facility, but the judge denied the request, calling it “premature.” Scantlebury is charged with attempted second-degree murder with a hate crime enhancement.
Renewed calls for healthcare worker protections
The attack has reignited concerns over the safety of medical professionals. A petition calling for stricter security measures and tougher penalties for assaults on healthcare workers has garnered over 10,000 signatures in three days.
Dr. Cheryl Thomas-Harcum, one of the petition’s organizers, said: “Leela devoted her life to this profession, and at the tail end of her career, she had to endure something so vicious.”
The Indian Nurses Association of South Florida echoed these concerns. Advisory board chair Dr. Manju Samuel urged lawmakers to act: “There are no specific laws to protect healthcare staff. That deficiency must be addressed.”
Lal remains in intensive care, reportedly improving but still on ventilator support. Meanwhile, Scantlebury remains behind bars as legal proceedings continue.
