A teacher’s aide granted a permanent injunction against a 6-foot-6, 17-year-old boy who brutally beat her at school

By Jacky On Mar 10, 2023

A Florida teaching assistant, who was brutally attacked by a 6’6″ boy, obtained a permanent protective order against him.

Joan Naydich, 57, of Palm Coast, was attacked by Brendan Depa, 17, a student with special needs, at Matanzas High School on February 21, where she was knocked unconscious and beaten at least 15 times.

It was originally reported that Naydich was attacked after taking Depa’s Nintendo Switch, but the teaching assistant, who has been at the school since 2021, said she never tried to take it from him.

‘For the record, I have NEVER picked up or touched any device. This information was incorrect and may have been told by the other party when she was detained,” Naydich wrote in an update on GoFundMewhich has raised over $97,000.

‘It was the teacher threatening not to use it at school; I had nothing to do with it,’ said Naydich, who was first photographed by DailyMail.com. Wesh 2.

Now, the teaching assistant has obtained a permanent injunction against the 270-pound student, who threatened to kill her. Depa has been charged as an adult with aggravated assault, which carries up to 15 years.

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Joan Naydich, 57, of Palm Coast, was attacked by Brendan Depa, 17, a student with special needs, at Matanzas High School on February 21, where she was knocked unconscious and struck at least 15 times.

The teaching assistant obtained a permanent injunction against Depa, who threatened to kill her. “No one should have to put up with what I went through that day,” she said.

‘No one should have to put up with what I went through that day. My children shouldn’t have had to put up with seeing their mother in that state either. I have a long road of recovery ahead of me, but with the help of my children and friends, I will not give up until I am again,” she wrote in a March 4 update.

“I just want to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else again,” he told Wesh 2.

Permanent injunctions are issued in Florida when deemed necessary by the court for the safety of the petitioner. Permanent injunctions, unlike restraining orders, do not have time limits.

Depa’s lawyer did not object to the injunction, according to Wesh 2.

Naydich suffered broken ribs and bruises, among other injuries, and is currently resting at home with her children.

Depa’s lawyer did not object to the injunction. Permanent injunctions are issued in Florida when deemed necessary by the court for the safety of the petitioner. Permanent injunctions, unlike restraining orders, do not have time limits

Depa has been charged as an adult with aggravated assault, which carries up to 15 years

“Aside from occasionally watching my kids bowl at the local bowling alley, I’ve been chilling out at home,” he wrote on GoFundMe.

‘I want to thank all my co-workers at both jobs for their support during this time. The outpouring of generosity and love is overwhelming, especially from the students and staff at my school. I have received so many emails, text messages, cards and phone calls wishing me the best,” he continued. “The healing process, as well as other procedures, will take a long time.”

The mother of two has a son Morgan, a senior, attending high school and a daughter who graduated in 2013. She has worked for Flagler County Schools since 2004 and has worked in Matanzas since 2021.

In surveillance footage, released by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, the burly student can be seen running towards Naydich before throwing her across the room, her body flying several feet.

She hits the ground headfirst, knocking her unconscious. The special needs student immediately begins kicking Naydich before kneeling down to punch her in the head and torso.

Five staff members are needed to restrain him and get him away from his body while he was fighting them.

She hits the ground headfirst, knocking her unconscious. The special needs student immediately begins kicking Naydich before kneeling down to punch her in the head and torso.

Another woman runs up to the student and grabs his arm, but is unable to pull him away from the assistant before several others rush to pull him away. Even after they manage to push him to the ground, she still extends her leg to hit Naydich a few more times.

Five staff members are needed to restrain him and get him away from his body while he was fighting them.

“My children shouldn’t have had to put up with seeing their mother in that condition either,” said the teaching assistant (pictured with her children).

In body cam footage, the student can be seen asking officers if he’s “going to jail,” while being handcuffed at school, before telling them he has “more important things to do.”

The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office found Naydich with “serious injuries” and she was transported to the hospital for treatment.

The teen claimed he would “hit her every time I took the game away from him” and spat at Naydich as officers escorted him away, according to the arrest report.

In body cam footage, the student can be seen asking officers if he is “going to jail,” while being handcuffed at school.

‘For how long?’ the students asked.

“I don’t know,” the officer replied.

Moments later, he told the officers: ‘Fuck you, I don’t want to go to jail. I have more important things to do’, before accusing them of mistreating him.