Ocean Springs mom speaks out after adult daughter with autism arrested

An Ocean Springs family asking for help with their autistic daughter led to criminal charges.

Shelby Lee is a 24-year-old woman with autism who lives with her parents in Ocean Springs. Last Monday, Shelby was triggered when she was told ‘no’ by her mother, Beverly, and she proceeded to attack her.

In the past, Beverly has called 911 for help and they have taken her to Singing River Hospital for psychiatric care, but this time was different.

Her daughter was arrested and charged with domestic violence even though Beverly didn’t want to press charges.

Shelby is now in a long-term care facility with an arrest record. Beverly wants her story known as a warning to others. “If you have to, you know sometimes you have to do what you have to do, but be careful because you don’t want to be put in the way of losing your child and they don’t deserve that. They don’t deserve that. They need help.”

We have reached out to Chief Mark Dunston and he was not able to be reached for comment.

You can join a Facebook group called ‘South Mississippi Parents of Children with Autism and Mental Illness’ for more information.