He Wanted a Cookie at 3 A.M. — Now a Florida Caregiver Faces a Manslaughter Charge After a Patient’s Death

A late-night search for a snack allegedly triggered a deadly confrontation inside a Florida assisted-living facility. Investigators say a 26-year-old man with autism was choked unconscious twice by an employee responsible for his ca

More than three years later, the former caregiver has been arrested.

A Simple Request for a Cookie Turns Into a Tragedy

Jason Similien, 26, was living at the Genuine Love and Care assisted-living facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, when he died on June 30, 2023.

According to police records cited by Law&Crime, Similien was awake and moving around the facility during the early morning hours. He had autism and reportedly experienced anxiety and psychosis.

The employee on duty, Jimmy Alexis, 43, allegedly became frustrated when Similien did not return to bed.

Investigators say the confrontation escalated during the night, with Alexis allegedly using chokeholds to restrain the patient.The most disturbing alleged incident reportedly occurred around 3 a.m., when Similien went to a snack closet looking for a cookie. Police say Alexis became frustrated and allegedly put the young man in another chokehold until he lost consciousness.

Similien never regained consciousness after that second incident, according to a witness account described in the arrest affidavit.

A Coworker Allegedly Witnessed the Choking

A fellow employee told investigators that she had seen Alexis choke Similien until he became unconscious during an earlier incident at approximately 1 a.m.

According to her account, she urged Alexis to stop because he was hurting the patient.

When she allegedly witnessed a second choking incident, she recorded audio on her phone. Investigators later reviewed the recording, in which the patient could reportedly be heard moaning.

The witness’s account became a significant part of the investigation into Similien’s death.

What Happened After the Patient Lost Consciousness?

Alexis reportedly told police that he had restrained Similien several times that night because the patient was making noises that could disturb other residents.

According to the arrest affidavit, Alexis described using a restraint technique he called “vertical immobilization.” He reportedly said Similien eventually went to bed around 5 a.m.

At approximately 6:45 a.m., Alexis said he went to wake the patient and discovered that he was unresponsive.

Similien was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:42 a.m. A medical examiner later ruled his death a homicide.

The findings transformed what initially appeared to be a patient’s sudden death into a criminal investigation.

Police Say the Employee Tried to Coordinate His Story

Investigators uncovered another troubling detail while building their case.

Police said they arranged a controlled phone call between Alexis and the coworker who had witnessed the alleged choking incidents. During the call, Alexis allegedly told her what he planned to tell investigators and encouraged her to give a similar account.

According to the arrest documents, he also allegedly warned her not to discuss certain details, including the facility’s logbook, because police might request a copy and ask further questions.

Those allegations added another layer to a case that had remained under investigation for years.

An Arrest More Than Three Years Later

Alexis was arrested on October 6, 2026, more than three years after Similien’s death. He was charged with aggravated manslaughter involving a disabled adult, according to local reporting.

He was being held at the Broward County Jail on a $25,000 bond, with a court appearance scheduled for October 13. His attorney has denied the allegations, and the defense has questioned why the arrest came years after the incident.

An attorney representing Similien’s family also alleged that former colleagues had made complaints about Alexis before the fatal incident. The family has filed a civil lawsuit against the facility and its owners. Those claims are separate from the criminal case, and the allegations have not been established in court.

A Family Still Seeking Answers

The case raises urgent questions about how vulnerable adults are protected in residential care settings—and what happens when the person entrusted with a patient’s safety is accused of harming them.

According to investigators, Similien was looking for a cookie in the middle of the night when the fatal sequence of events allegedly unfolded. A routine request for food became part of a case involving alleged repeated choking, a witness’s recording, and a lengthy investigation.

Alexis has been charged, but a charge is not a conviction. The criminal proceedings will determine whether the allegations can be proven in court.

For Similien’s family, the legal process comes after years of waiting for answers about how a young man in a care facility lost his life.

Source: Law&Crime