Group Home And Daycare Employee Arrested For Child Abuse (26-009)

LARGO – Detectives assigned to the Crimes Against Children Unit arrested a group home and daycare employee for Child Abuse.

According to detectives, on December 21, 2025, deputies responded to a child abuse incident at a group home in Largo, after the victim’s father noticed multiple injuries to his non-verbal autistic child during pick up.

During the investigation, detectives reviewed surveillance footage from the group home which shows 38-year-old Shannon Cooper excessively battering the victim. Cooper was seen pulling the victim around by their collar, striking the victim unprovoked multiple times, straddling the victim and forcing her weight upon them, throwing the victim into furniture, and taking the victim into rooms that were known to not have cameras.

The victim suffered from bruising on their neck, right arm, and left arm, as well as scratches on their face and hands.

On January 21, 2026, Cooper was arrested and charged with Child Abuse. She was transported to Pinellas County Jail.

Cooper is also employed by Retmus Academy of Learning, located at 2800 26th Avenue South in St. Petersburg.

The investigation continues.

Additional Information:

Shannon Cooper (Suspect – Arrested)
DOB: 08/07/1987
Address: 2175 62nd Street North APT 202, Clearwater
Charge: Child Abuse

Per Florida Statute 119.071(2)(h)1, no further details will be released that would tend to identify the 10-year-old victim.