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It was 25 degrees outside that Tuesday, January 9th, 2018. Psychotherapist Imamu Baraka was leaving his office across the street when he saw staff from University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown in the process of dumping a woman at a bus stop in only a hospital gown and socks. Furious, he began recording the event on his cell phone, called 911, made certain the woman was re-admitted to the ER and concerned no one would believe him, uploaded the video. The frightening footage, evidence of a heinous practice called "patient dumping" went viral.
A week before, Cheryl Chandler had reported her 22-year-old daughter, Rebecca X, missing. Six years ago, Rebecca had been diagnosed with Asperger's and a psychiatric disability. She had been placed in a group home in Charles County, MD, but later evicted from it on the excuse that she refused to take her medication. Her family enrolled her in what they were told was an intensive inpatient treatment program. How Rebecca went missing from there is not clearly understood.
Her mother was browsing the Internet when she happened upon the trending video and played it. She doesn't remember what happened after the moment she recognized the young woman in the hospital gown on the street was Rebecca. According to family members, she screamed her anguish. Ms. Chandler immediately called the medical center demanding to know the location of her daughter but they refused to tell her. Finally after calling them, the police were able to locate Rebecca at a homeless shelter.
A week before, Cheryl Chandler had reported her 22-year-old daughter, Rebecca X, missing. Six years ago, Rebecca had been diagnosed with Asperger's and a psychiatric disability. She had been placed in a group home in Charles County, MD, but later evicted from it on the excuse that she refused to take her medication. Her family enrolled her in what they were told was an intensive inpatient treatment program. How Rebecca went missing from there is not clearly understood.
Her mother was browsing the Internet when she happened upon the trending video and played it. She doesn't remember what happened after the moment she recognized the young woman in the hospital gown on the street was Rebecca. According to family members, she screamed her anguish. Ms. Chandler immediately called the medical center demanding to know the location of her daughter but they refused to tell her. Finally after calling them, the police were able to locate Rebecca at a homeless shelter.
During a press conference in Rebecca's attorney's offices, unable to hold back tears, Rebecca's twin sister Rosslyn read a letter from Rebecca, thanking everyone for their help, telling everyone she was safe. Ms. Chandler was adamant that Rebecca was not homeless or uninsured, and was very much loved. It was Ms. Chandler who had hired an attorney for Rebecca.