A video recorded at a Dunbarton care home for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in February 2019 captured caretakers pinning Lucas Houle to the ground and slapping him repeatedly. Amid his pain and fear, Houle made a tearful plea: “I want to go home.”

Four months later, Christine Marie Bill was found dead after several hours in a hot, sealed car in Andover, according to a lawsuit filed in the wake of her death and a State Police incident report. Bill, due to her cognitive disabilities, had a history of leaving the house, and it was her caretaker’s job to check on her every 15 to 30 minutes.

In March 2023, a woman named Laurie Raymond, who has cerebral palsy and is nonverbal, was living at a residential facility in Lyme when she suffered second-degree burns to her abdomen, legs, and genital area. A registered nurse caring for Raymond placed her under scalding water and then scrubbed the burns, resulting in a $45,000 medical bill, according to a malpractice lawsuit filed by the family.

While every story of abuse and neglect within New Hampshire’s intellectual and developmental disability care network is unique in the harm caused, collectively they point to the state’s systemic failures in oversight and accountability.

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### Uncovering Systemic Failures

Over the past several months, the Bulletin has learned about people like Houle, Bill, Raymond, and others through court filings, law enforcement documents, state records, and conversations with lawyers, advocates, and family members. Their stories are being reported for the first time here.

Each individual tragedy illustrates the consequences of repeated breakdowns in care—care that is paid for and overseen by the state.

According to state records obtained by the Bulletin, New Hampshire investigated 1,405 complaints of abuse, neglect, and exploitation committed against people with intellectual and developmental disabilities receiving state services from January 2023 through the first six months of 2025. Of those, 467 were deemed credible after investigation.

Some complaints included physical and sexual abuse. Additionally, 18 complaints were withdrawn before investigation completion, and 28 were ongoing when records were produced.

State records also show that 119 people died in New Hampshire’s intellectual and developmental disability system between January 2023 and mid-2025. Of those deaths, 79 were deemed “anticipated” (state officials did not clarify this categorization), and at least 22 were under “unknown” causes of death.

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### Voices from the Field

Holly Haines, a Manchester attorney who represented the Bill family, reflected on the case’s wider implications for New Hampshire’s disability care system.

> “The state is hiring vendor private agencies,” she said. “The private agencies are hiring private people, and not training them or educating them adequately, and it’s ultimately the disabled individuals who are harmed.”

Haines added, “There is more finger-pointing than taking responsibility. I don’t think the state knows what’s actually going on in the households. I’m not sure the vendor agencies even are aware.”

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### Official Responses

In response to the Bulletin’s requests for interviews, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) spokesman Jake Leon stated that the department cannot comment on individual cases but “has a process in place to review and investigate complaints made against providers and vendors licensed or certified through the Department.”

Similarly, the office of Governor Kelly Ayotte shared a statement saying:

> “DHHS has a process in place to review and investigate complaints, and the Governor will be monitoring this issue closely.”

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### Daily Beatings: The Abuse of Lucas Houle

Lucas Houle, who has intellectual and developmental disabilities, was subjected to horrifying abuse by his caretakers in 2019.

A video taken secretly by an employee of Houle’s care agency showed caretakers Bikash Shrestha and Dilux Timsina pinning him to the floor of their Dunbarton home while he cried and begged for mercy. The two caretakers slapped him repeatedly and advised each other on how to strike him in a way that wouldn’t leave bruising.

At one point, a caretaker bent Houle’s finger backward as punishment for raising his middle finger. Houle cried out, “Please don’t break my finger.” Throughout the video, he pleaded:

– “Please stop, please stop, don’t beat me up.”
– “I won’t do it again, I won’t do it again.”
– “I’ll be good! I’ll be good! I promise!”
– “No, no, no, please stop.”

At the video’s end, Shrestha told Houle he was not allowed to use a toilet and had to urinate in the living room, while Timsina insisted he remain on the ground.

The employee who recorded the video, Pitambar Thapa, told police the abuse—physical, verbal, and psychological—continued daily for at least 10 months. Thapa initially feared retaliation, which delayed reporting.

Houle, in his 40s at the time, has the mental capacity of a child and numerous diagnoses including intellectual disability, ADHD, mood disorder, schizophrenia, and intermittent explosive disorder. His behavioral challenges were noted in his care plan.

At the time, Houle was receiving care from Summit New Hampshire, operated under contract by Community Bridges and behavioral support by Aspire Living and Learning.

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### Systemic Oversights

Internal documents revealed many red flags that the state missed:

– Community Bridges’ vetting process for Summit was incomplete months after Houle was placed in their care.
– Caretakers’ monthly reports were often identical, appearing copied with repeated typos and details, yet supervisors and behavioral teams failed to question this.
– Matthew Green, a behavior analyst from Aspire, saw the abuse video but removed Houle from his caretakers almost a month later.
– Despite being required to spend an average of six hours monthly observing the care team, billing records showed Green spent just 2.5 hours over eight months with Houle and his team.

In litigation, Summit, Community Bridges, and Aspire ultimately settled the case under undisclosed terms, barring further comment.

Shrestha and Timsina pleaded guilty to simple assault and were sentenced to nine months in jail; Uttam Thapa entered a plea accepting conviction for simple assault and was fined $500.

Houle now lives with his mother.

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### Overheating in a Hot Car: The Death of Christine Marie Bill

In July, Christine Marie Bill, 46, was found unresponsive in a hot, sealed car in the driveway of her Andover home after about six hours, and was pronounced dead at approximately 7:10 p.m.

Bill’s disabilities originated from a severe insulin overdose ten years earlier, resulting in cognitive and memory deficits, brain dysfunction, and a seizure disorder. She had a history of leaving the house, which required frequent checks by her caretakers every 15 to 30 minutes.

Security footage showed Bill leaving the house and approaching the car without caretakers’ knowledge.

Bill’s care was coordinated by Community Bridges, which contracted Independent Services Network to manage caregivers. The care plan explicitly stated she required 24/7 supervision both inside the home and in the community due to limited safety skills.

A wrongful death lawsuit filed by Bill’s family alleged that caretakers were inadequately trained on supervision requirements.

The case was settled in 2023; defendants denied negligence. Terms remain confidential.

Haines noted the “complete lack of oversight” and “systemic breakdown” within New Hampshire’s care system, emphasizing that while incidents are reported due to protocol, there is insufficient root cause analysis or systemic change to prevent future tragedies.

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### Burned by Scalding Water: Laurie Raymond’s Ordeal

Malpractice reports from January 2023 to March 2025, obtained through records requests, reveal recurring claims of abuse and neglect in New Hampshire’s disability care system.

Among the reports was the case of Laurie Raymond, who has cerebral palsy and is nonverbal. In March 2023, a registered nurse caretaker allegedly placed her under scalding water at a Lyme residential facility, causing second-degree burns to her abdomen, legs, and genital area.

The nurse then scrubbed the burned areas, apparently unaware of the damage, causing skin to peel off. Three round burns, matching the shape of the showerhead, were later discovered by another caregiver.

Raymond was treated at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center’s burn unit, incurring $45,000 in medical expenses.

Raymond’s care was overseen by PathWays of the River Valley, the area agency responsible for her residential facility, with care funded by state and federal dollars.

Her family filed a malpractice lawsuit naming PathWays, the travel nursing agency TLC Nursing, and the nurse responsible. The family settled the case in March; confidentiality clauses barred further discussion.

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### Patterns of Abuse and Neglect

Other reports in the system include disturbing accounts of physical violence such as residents being kicked, punched, or pushed by staff. Sexual abuse and staff misconduct — including sexual relations with residents and failing to prevent assaults — have been reported.

Additional concerns include neglect, such as leaving residents who require constant supervision unattended, staff sleeping on duty, and substance abuse among caregivers.

Unsafe living conditions have also been cited, including mold, exposed wiring, pest infestations, and unsanitary environments with feces or urine present.

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### What’s Next?

The Bulletin will continue to report on New Hampshire’s intellectual and developmental disability care system.

In the upcoming article, **A System of Harm, Part II**, the story of Stevie Weidlich Jr. will be explored. In December 2022, Stevie’s body was found in the woods near the Allenstown house where he was cared for. His family remembers a joyful young man whose dreams for a normal life were tragically cut short by systemic failures.

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*This series aims to shed light on the urgent need for reform and accountability in New Hampshire’s developmental disability services, ensuring safety, dignity, and respect for all individuals receiving care.*
https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2025-11-11/a-series-of-tragedies-exposes-patterns-of-abuse-and-neglect-in-nhs-disability-system