ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — The CEO of EPIC Behavioral Healthcare, a community behavioral health organization based in St. Augustine that offers mental health services, shared a statement to First Coast News Thursday after one of their former workers was arrested Wednesday on child sex crimes.
Elizabeth Blanchard, 34, was arrested on the following charges:
- Lewd or lascivious battery on a victim age 12 to 16
- Use of a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony
- Travel to meet after use of a computer to lure a child
- Cause to become delinquent dependent needy (two counts)
- Sexual battery on victim 12 years of age under 18 years of age by custodian (four counts)
According to Blanchard's arrest warrant, a 15-year-old boy had been seeing Blanchard since June 18.
The warrant states that the boy told St. Johns County sheriff's detectives in a recorded interview that Blanchard "would only flirt with him and call/text him," but that their connection "eventually progressed" to Blanchard kissing him and "asking to perform oral sex."
The boy, whose identity is unknown due to redactions in the warrant, also told detectives he and Blanchard would have unprotected sex "on multiple occasions (approximately four to five times)," according to the warrant.
"On one occasion the defendant [Blanchard] rented a hotel room at Homewood Suites, located at 10 Prawn St. within St. Johns County," the warrant states. "The victim advised the defendant told him she rented the hotel room just to have sexual intercourse with him. The defendant would often meet the victim outside of working hours and provide him with vape pens and alcoholic beverages (approximately two to three times)."
Surveillance footage detectives reviewed of the hotel on Aug. 10 showed Blanchard and the boy enter a room at "approximately" 12:38 p.m., both exit around 33 minutes later, then Blanchard return by herself about 18 minutes later, according to the warrant.
The warrant goes on to mention that Blanchard sent the boy "multiple (approximately 50) nude photographs via iMessage and Snapchat." However, the warrant says "none of the saved images would classify as harmful material."
In an Aug. 15 text message from Blanchard to the boy, Blanchard asked the teen: "Switch to snap and delete this? Please babe," the warrant states.
Blanchard remains in-custody at the St. Johns County Jail Friday on a $267,000 bond, records show. If released from jail, the warrant says she is to have no contact with the victim.
EPIC Behavioral Healthcare said in its statement Thursday that Blanchard had been fired from her position within the organization "before the charges were known."
Furthermore, CEO Nangela Pulsfus said the following in the statement to First Coast News:
"We are shocked and dismayed by the actions of our former employee. The behavior in question goes against the values and standards of our company, and we do not tolerate such misconduct in any form. The well-being and integrity of our clients and employees are of utmost importance to us, and we will take all necessary steps to ensure their wellbeing and security."
