Image sources: Phoenix Children’s Hospital via Google Maps; Jaydeep Patel via Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.
A former Phoenix Children’s Hospital employee has been arrested on deeply disturbing charges involving the solicitation and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Jaydeep Patel, 31, was arrested at his Phoenix home on July 17, 2025, and subsequently charged with nine felony counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. According to FOX 10 Phoenix, authorities launched the investigation after receiving multiple online tips from an Internet Service Provider about a social media profile allegedly linked to the possession of child sexual abuse material.
Following a search warrant, law enforcement discovered multiple images and videos of CSAM, “some of which allegedly showed parts of Patel’s home or body.” (12 News)
Patel reportedly used multiple online identities to request explicit images of children for his own sexual gratification. Chat logs revealed that Patel described himself as a “pedo” and having “no limits”, acknowledging his sexual interest in minors. In one chat, he described himself as a security officer with Phoenix Children’s. (AZ Family)
When asked about social media usage, Patel reported using Instagram and TikTok. However, when investigators asked to review his phone to determine whether he also had a Kik account, Patel denied using it and requested legal representation.
In total, authorities recovered more than 1,200 images and videos of child sexual abuse material from his electronic devices.
Patel’s Role Gave Him Direct Access to Vulnerable Children
At the time of his arrest, Patel was employed as a behavioral health technician at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, a role that involved working directly with young patients, including those in psychiatric crisis. Behavioral health techs are often responsible for monitoring children on locked units, assisting with daily care, and responding to emotional or behavioral incidents. That means Patel had direct access to vulnerable children, many of whom were likely not accompanied by their parents during treatment.
Phoenix Children’s Hospital reported that Patel is no longer employed there and emphasized that the hospital conducts thorough background checks on all employees.
According to FOX 10, “A judge has set a cash-only appearance bond of $100,000 for Patel, and should he make bond, he will be subjected to a number of restrictions, including electronic monitoring, curfew restrictions, and a no-exceptions ban on contacting minors.”
His preliminary hearing is set for July 28, 2025.
Why This Case Matters
Patel’s arrest raises urgent questions about how hospitals and other institutions screen, monitor, and supervise employees who work closely with children, especially those in crisis.
Darla Hyche, a mother of three children with special needs—including a 10-year-old son who receives care in the hospital’s Behavioral Unit—told FOX 10 the news left her with “a ton of questions.”
“Being that my son goes there so much and he’s there often without me, because especially when he’s on the Behavioral Unit—you know, parents cannot be there—we don’t see what goes on. We see, you know, how they react to us and talk to us to our face, but we don’t know what’s going on behind doors.”
While Hyche has taken her children to Phoenix Children’s for years, the recent allegations have made her more cautious. She said she plans to be more observant, ask more questions, and pay closer attention to who is caring for her son moving forward.
Hyche’s comments emphasize the difficult position parents face when they must entrust the care of their children to hospital staff, particularly in units where parents are not permitted to stay and have little visibility into what happens behind closed doors.
Justice for Survivors
If you or your child were harmed by Jaydeep Patel—or by any healthcare professional—we’re here to listen and help you understand your legal options.
Our firm works with survivors to uncover institutional failures and pursue justice through civil legal action. These cases can reveal how trusted systems allowed abuse to happen while holding them accountable.
You deserve to be heard. You deserve answers. And you deserve justice. Reach out today for a free, completely confidential consultation. Whether you’re ready to take legal action or just need someone to talk to, we’re here—on your terms, and at your pace.
