Patient Who Attacked Nurse Charged with Homicide, Second-Degree Murder and Hate-Crime

Update 2/20/2025

A hate-crime enhancement has been added to Stephen Scantlebuy's charges and could possibly result in a harsher penalty. Scantlebury was arrested after violently attacking a nurse at Palm West Hospital on February 18.,2025. Scantlebury allegedly referenced the nurse's ethnicity while attacking her which led to the hate-crime enhancement, investigators told local news. 

Update 2/19/2025

According to the Palm Beach Sherrif's office website, Stephen Scantlebury is facing "Homicide - Murder Dangerous Depraved Without Premeditation" charges after violently attacking a nurse. At this time, authorities have not confirmed the nurse's death. 

• Homicide - Murder Depraved Without Premeditation, also known as depraved heart murder or depraved-indifference murder, is a type of second-degree murder charge. 

pbso.org

Nurse.org will continue to update this article as more details are released.

Original Article:

A nurse at HCA Florida Palms West Hospital in Loxahatchee, Florida, sustained horrific injuries after being attacked by a patient on February 18, 2025. The patient was identified as 33-year-old Stephen Scantlebury from Wellington.

Details of the Assault

The attack occurred around 1:20 p.m. in a third-floor patient room. Scantlebury, who was under the care of the nurse due to Florida’s Mental Health Act (a.k.a. Baker Act), suddenly jumped from his bed and assaulted her. Witnesses reported that he repeatedly struck the nurse in the face before fleeing the scene.

The nurse was airlifted to St. Mary's Medical Center because of the severity of her injuries. Medical reports indicate that “Essentially every bone” in her face was broken, and she is “likely to lose the use of both eyes.”

Arrest of the Suspect

After the assault, Scantlebury fled the hospital premises. He was apprehended by Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputies on Southern Boulevard, where a deputy used a stun gun to subdue him.

Stephen Scantlebury

Scantlebury, who has no prior criminal history in Palm Beach County, now faces charges of second-degree murder. Following the attack, he was seen walking shirtless on Southern Boulevard with EKG leads still attached to his chest before being apprehended by law enforcement.

Hospital and Community Response

HCA Florida Healthcare released a statement for their injured colleague, stating: “Our primary concern is with our beloved colleague, and we are praying for her recovery. We are also providing support to our hospital staff who are understandably shaken by this incident. The attack on our nursing colleague happened within a matter of seconds and was witnessed by multiple people who came to assist. We are grateful to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office who acted to detain the suspect, and we are assisting law enforcement in their investigation.”

The Florida Nurses Association emphasized the need for enhanced safety measures to protect healthcare workers from such violent acts. Executive director, Willa Fuller, said: “People that are caring for you in the hospital are not targets and should not be seen as somebody that is OK to abuse… Almost every nurse has probably experienced some kind of violence in her career, at least once and probably more often.”

Next Steps with the Case

Scantlebury is scheduled for his initial court appearance on February 25, 2025. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to determine the motive behind the unprovoked attack. As the legal process unfolds, there is a renewed call for measures to ensure the safety and well-being of medical staff.

Nurse.org will continue to update this article as the case unfolds.

🤔Nurses, have you experienced violence at work? Share your thoughts in the comments below!