A dad who tracked down his missing daughter is suing for $10 million after his child was allegedly assaulted while being treated on two psychiatric wards.
In December 2024, 14-year-old Emmarae Gervasi, from East Patchogue in Suffolk County, Long Island, was reported missing by her parents.
Her father, Frank Gervasi, posted online pleas for help as the search for his daughter continued.
After nearly a month with no sign of Emmarae, Frank reportedly received an anonymous tip that pointed him to her location. He then found her on a large boat docked on Long Island.
During the time she was missing, Emmarae was allegedly held against her will and repeatedly raped by adult men, the New York Post reports. Several men have reportedly been charged in connection with the case, including Daniel Soto, 37.
Following her recovery, Emmarae was taken to two different psychiatric facilities for care related to what she had endured. Frank now alleges that she was assaulted while in those units.
Frank has filed a $10 million lawsuit against Suffolk County and New York State over the allegations.
The lawsuit claims Frank was told his daughter would be safe, even though one of the facilities had allegedly been warned that an employee—identified as Deshaun McClean—was being “a little too handsy with the minor.”
According to the allegations, that same staff member sexually assaulted Emmarae just days later.
After that incident, Emmarae was reportedly moved to another facility, Brentwood House. The lawsuit alleges she was assaulted again there, this time by a different staff member identified as Joseph Edward.
The Post reports that McClean and Joyner were both charged with sex crimes against a minor.
Frank is now seeking $10,000,000 in damages tied to what he says happened after his daughter was placed in psychiatric care.
The lawsuit states: “The Father was encouraged and reassured by the Country of Suffolk and the Court, that this was safe and in [Emmarae’s] best interest to be placed in [Sagamore Children’s Psychiatric and later Brentwood Residential Center] facilities.”
It adds: “The minor was in a zone of danger, and despite that knowledge, [officials] took no steps to protect the minor.”
If you’ve been affected by any of the issues in this article, you can contact The National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800.656.HOPE (4673), available 24/7. Or you can chat online via online.rainn.org.