Local News
Former Employee Alleges Wage Theft and Sudden Closure at Holistic Behavioral Health Services in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, LA – Samantha Wheat, a former employee of Holistic Behavioral Health Services of Louisiana LLC, also known as Holistic Haven, has reached out to Channel 2 NOW News with allegations of wage theft and unethical business practices by the facility’s management.
According to Wheat, the residential pediatric psychiatric facility, located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was under state investigation for non-compliance in early 2024.
The situation reportedly escalated when, on March 13, 2024, the facility abruptly closed its doors without prior notice, leaving over 20 employees unpaid for their work.
Allegations Against Management
Wheat alleges that the CEO, Tommie Dyer, and his wife, Felicia Nixon Dyer, who also run outpatient behavioral health services in Baton Rouge, ceased communication with employees following the facility’s closure.
Despite repeated attempts by former staff to recover their unpaid wages, Wheat claims the Dyers have ignored multiple certified demand letters and have shown no intention of resolving the matter.
“I am personally owed nearly $5,000, and I know many nurses, technicians, and other staff members are in similar situations,” Wheat stated. “The financial strain from not being paid almost cost me my house, my car, and my overall well-being.”
Employees Struggle with Limited Options
Wheat reported that she, along with other former employees, contacted the New Orleans Labor Board for assistance but received no meaningful help.
Many affected individuals are reportedly unable to afford legal representation to pursue claims against the Dyers.
“This isn’t the first time these business owners have been accused of not paying their employees,” Wheat said, alleging a pattern of similar behavior by the couple.
Ongoing Operations Despite Allegations
Despite the controversy surrounding the closure of Holistic Haven, the Dyers allegedly continue to operate their outpatient business in Baton Rouge.
Wheat and other former employees are now urging the public to hold the Dyers accountable for their actions.
A Plea for Justice
“I hope this message reaches Tommie and Felicia Dyer, as well as news outlets, to shine a light on their actions. It’s not just about the money; it’s about the devastation they’ve caused to people’s lives,” Wheat emphasized.
Wheat encourages others to share her story and bring attention to the issue, expressing hope that increased public awareness will lead to justice for the unpaid employees.
For further information or to provide tips, Channel 2 NOW News urges anyone with details related to this case to reach out to their newsroom.
UPDATE: Search efforts have been suspended following the sinking of the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts, marking another tragic loss for the city’s historic fishing community.
The U.S. Coast Guard was alerted early Friday morning by the vessel’s emergency beacon after it activated in the water; no mayday call was received.
Responders located a debris field, an unoccupied life raft, and one deceased individual in the water.
Six other crew members remain missing and are presumed lost after an extensive air and sea search yielded no additional results.
The Coast Guard cited frigid water temperatures, challenging weather conditions, and the vast search area in its decision to suspend operations.
GLOUCESTER, Mass. — Authorities have identified all seven individuals who lost their lives after the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean sank approximately 25 miles off Cape Ann, Massachusetts, early Friday morning, marking a devastating loss for Gloucester’s historic fishing community.
The Lily Jean, a commercial fishing vessel measuring between 72 and 80 feet in length and homeported in Gloucester—the nation’s oldest working fishing port—activated its emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) at approximately 6:50 a.m. Friday while returning to port.
No mayday call was received, and subsequent attempts to contact the vessel were unsuccessful.
The U.S. Coast Guard immediately launched a large-scale search and rescue operation, deploying an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and multiple surface assets to the area of the distress signal.
Crews located a debris field and an unoccupied life raft roughly 25 miles offshore near the EPIRB activation site, confirming the vessel had sunk to the ocean floor. One deceased individual was recovered from the water.
The remaining six crew members were later presumed lost after extensive search efforts yielded no additional results.
Officials confirmed that seven people were aboard the vessel at the time of the incident, revising earlier reports that indicated six.
The seven individuals who perished aboard the Lily Jean are:
- John Paul Rousanidis, 33, of Salem/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Sean Therrien, 44, of Lynn/Peabody, Massachusetts
- Freeman Short, of the Marshfield/Scituate area
- Captain Gus Sanfilippo, a well-known and respected Gloucester fisherman
- Paul Beal Sr., deckhand
- Paul Beal Jr., deckhand and son of Paul Beal Sr.
- Jada Samitt, 22, of Virginia
Jada Samitt, the seventh crew member identified, was serving aboard the vessel in the role of a federal fisheries observer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She had recently relocated to Massachusetts to pursue her passion for environmental biology, graduating last year. Family members said joining the Lily Jean crew was her first major professional role at sea and a lifelong dream.
Her aunt, Heather Michaels, described Samitt as a compassionate and driven young woman who deeply respected her captain and dedicated herself fully to her work. “She put her heart and soul into this opportunity,” family members said, noting her commitment to marine conservation and the fishing community.
Officials said the Lily Jean had reported taking on water shortly before contact was lost.
The vessel is now presumed fully submerged.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Gloucester’s close-knit maritime community.
Ashley Sullivan, a local business owner who knew the vessel’s owner, emphasized the daily risks faced by commercial fishermen. “I hope people really take a moment to understand the sacrifices these men and women make to put food on our tables,” she said. “This is heartbreaking.”
Massachusetts State Senator Bruce Tarr also expressed condolences, highlighting Gloucester’s deep fishing heritage. “Gloucester has a long fishing history, and that history includes tragic loss,” Tarr said. “It appears we are experiencing another of those painful chapters.”
Governor Maura Healey released a statement saying she was “heartbroken over the devastating news out of Gloucester,” adding that her administration has offered full assistance to local officials and the Coast Guard. She extended prayers to the victims’ families and the broader fishing community across Cape Ann and the Commonwealth.
Community members and local businesses have continued to share messages of remembrance and solidarity. Taylor Hunt, a relative of Freeman Short, posted a tribute honoring the crew, writing in part: “The salt has been in our blood for generations… A man is not lost while the sea remembers his name. Fair winds and following seas.”
The Lily Jean had previously been featured on the History Channel series Nor’Easter Men, which documented the dangers and demands of New England’s commercial fishing industry.
While search operations have concluded, the Coast Guard and relevant agencies continue to review the circumstances surrounding the sinking. Officials have stated that further updates will be released as additional information becomes available.
Authorities have urged the public to keep the victims’ families and Gloucester’s fishing community in their thoughts and prayers during this period of profound loss.