A former employee at a Fort Lauderdale assisted living facility is facing a manslaughter charge more than three years after a 26-year-old patient died following a series of alleged choking incidents inside the group home.
Jimmy Bertram Alexis, 43, was arrested Tuesday in connection with the June 30, 2023, death of Jason Similien at the Genuine Love and Care Group Home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Police said Similien, who had autism and experienced anxiety and psychosis, was found unresponsive at the facility that morning.
The case remained under investigation for years. A Broward County medical examiner determined in November 2023 that Similien’s death was a homicide, according to the arrest records.
Investigators say Alexis was working at the facility when Similien became active during the overnight hours. According to police, Alexis later acknowledged that he had restrained Similien several times because he was making noises that could disturb other residents.
One of the most troubling parts of the investigation involves what allegedly happened after Similien got out of bed.
Police describe two alleged chokeholds
A staff member told investigators that Similien was walking around the facility during the early morning hours and that Alexis wanted him to return to bed.
Police say that around 1 a.m., Alexis placed an arm around Similien’s neck while he was sitting on a foam mat. The patient eventually lost consciousness, according to the witness account included in the arrest documents.
Several hours later, Similien reportedly woke up again.
This time, investigators say, he went to a snack area looking for a cookie.
The staff member told police that Alexis became frustrated and allegedly placed Similien in another chokehold until he again lost consciousness.
The employee said she had already warned Alexis during the first incident that he was hurting Similien. During the second alleged incident, she recorded audio on her phone, according to police. Investigators said the recording captured sounds of Similien choking and moaning.
Similien never regained consciousness after the second incident, police said.
Similien was later found unresponsive
Alexis told investigators that Similien eventually went to bed around 5 a.m. and appeared to fall asleep. When Alexis tried to wake him at about 6:45 a.m., he was unresponsive.
Emergency crews were called to the facility, and Similien was taken to a hospital. He was pronounced dead at 7:42 a.m.
Police said the investigation also uncovered concerns about how the incident was described afterward.
Investigators arranged a controlled phone call between Alexis and the staff member who had witnessed the alleged incidents. During that call, police said Alexis discussed what he planned to tell investigators and instructed the employee to give a similar account.
According to the arrest records, Alexis also allegedly told her not to bring up the facility’s logbook or other details that could lead police to ask additional questions.
Alexis disputes the accusation
During his initial conversations with police, Alexis said he had to restrain Similien rather than choke him. He reportedly described using what he called “vertical immobilization” and said he had restrained Similien four or five times that night.
Alexis has since denied the allegations.
After his arrest, he appeared in court and was later released on bond. His attorney questioned why authorities waited more than three years to make an arrest in a case stemming from the 2023 death.
The arrest came after investigators worked with the Broward State Attorney’s Office on the case, police said.
Family has filed a lawsuit
Similien’s family has also filed a civil lawsuit against the group home and its owners.
Adam Finkle, an attorney representing the family, said former employees had previously raised concerns about Alexis’ conduct. Finkle also alleged that Alexis was not fired despite those complaints.
The family has argued that Similien was a vulnerable resident who required specialized care and that the facility had a responsibility to protect him.
The criminal case and the family’s civil lawsuit remain separate proceedings, and the allegations against Alexis have not been proven in court.
Alexis had been held on a $25,000 bond in Broward County. He bonded out Thursday and declined to discuss the case with reporters, but when asked directly whether he choked Similien, he denied it.
His next court appearance is scheduled for October 13.
