I once got bit by a man who later killed my co-worker.

I was working as a direct support professional in a home that I believe did not have proper safety measures in place. I was supporting two violent adult men and was left alone in the house for hours at a time. One of the men was known for trying to sexually assault female staff. The other was known for physically assaulting staff. This all happened because he didn’t have the snacks he wanted. First I was cornered in the hallway, then hit in the face, and while trying to block my face he saw the opportunity and bit down hard. Thank god I was wearing a light jacket, otherwise I think I might have a chunk missing from my arm. He didn’t release for a good 30 seconds, as I was pleading for him to let go. After he let go I ran to the office and locked myself in. I called the manager on-call and said I needed to be relieved so I could go to the hospital. At first they tried to tell me no one could relieve me but eventually a VERY pregnant woman showed up. I hope she was safe. I don’t know, I never went back.

At the hospital getting my shots.

The muscle was bruised and sore for 6 months after the bite.

When I first started, an older lady was training me and showed me all of the bite/scratch scars she had acquired over the many years of working there. She warned that I would get bit eventually. Not an “if” but “when”. We are trained for this kind of attack, I thought I could handle myself. I couldn’t believe this poor woman, who loved the men she cared for, still wanted to stick around. Apparently her family begged her to leave the job, but she refused. A couple years later, I see an article that she was found in the bathroom covered in blood and with a broken neck. She died a few days later in the hospital. The family is trying to sue, I haven’t really seen many updates about it. The worst part? He didn’t face any criminal charges and still lives in the same house. I’ve been through a lot with the people I’ve supported over the last decade, but I’ve never ever resented any of them before. I hate this man. Here’s an article of the incident. ETA a better news article: https://www.bluemountaineagle.com/news/the-death-of-bobbie-kolada-part-1-did-somebody-do-this-to-her/article_e7e1ce36-e470-536d-8f41-2fe250edd591.html This is a 5 part series that discusses the journalistic investigation that was completed about the attack on my Co-worker.