Panel: ‘Abuse’ was cause of autistic student’s broken legs

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – An outside panel has concluded that physical abuse was the cause of injuries to an autistic teenager whose legs were broken when a teaching assistant physically restrained him.

Earlier investigations by Louisville police and state child protection officials into the 2014 near-fatal incident had been inconclusive over whether abuse had occurred.

But news outlets report that on Monday, members of the Child Fatality and Near Fatality Review Panel announced physical abuse is the only viable explanation.

Witnesses said Brennan Long was being disruptive before a teaching assistant lowered him to the floor in November 2014.

Long nearly died, needing blood transfusions to survive.

The Jefferson County school district paid Long’s family $1.75 million earlier this year to resolve the case.

In a statement, the district disputed the panel’s finding, saying prior investigations were thorough.