Who Is Michiko Burton, the Wendy’s Manager Arrested for Tying a Neurodivergent Employee to a Grill?

Michiko Burton, a 19-year-old former Wendy’s manager in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, has been arrested and charged after police said she admitted to tying a neurodivergent employee to a workstation containing a grill. The incident reportedly happened on August 30, 2026, at a Wendy’s restaurant on South Church Street. According to the Murfreesboro Police Department, Burton later told investigators that the incident was part of a TikTok trend. The case drew further attention after another employee recorded video showing the worker restrained with garbage bags and the footage became part of the investigation.

The case has since developed into a criminal investigation involving Adult Protective Services and detectives from the Murfreesboro Police Department’s Special Victims Unit. Burton was ultimately charged with simple assault and false imprisonment, both misdemeanor offenses. Police said she was booked into the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center on a $2,000 bond, and a court appearance has been scheduled for October 22 in General Sessions Court.

Who Is Michiko Burton and What Happened at the Wendy’s?

Michiko Burton was 19 years old and working as a manager at the Wendy’s restaurant in Murfreesboro when the incident occurred. Police said the incident took place on August 30, when Burton allegedly tied a neurodivergent employee to a workstation in the restaurant kitchen. According to investigators, garbage bags were used to restrain the employee’s leg and connect him to the grill. Another Wendy’s employee, Nicholus Murphy, recorded video of what he saw, which later became an important part of the reporting and investigation into the incident.

According to police, officers interviewed Burton on September 6. During that conversation, investigators said Burton admitted that she had tied the worker to the workstation but claimed that the incident was connected to a TikTok trend. Police subsequently referred the matter to Adult Protective Services, while detectives with the Special Victims Unit continued investigating. The investigation eventually resulted in warrants being obtained for Burton’s arrest.

Earlier reporting indicated that the employee was not physically injured in the incident. Police had initially spoken with the employee, who told officers that he was not upset and had not been injured, and charges were not filed at that stage. However, the employee’s family later asked police to reopen the investigation after video showing the restraint became known. The subsequent investigation led to Burton being charged.

Nicholus Murphy, the co-worker who recorded the video, said Burton had told workers that she needed the employee to “stay put” while she handled other work elsewhere in the restaurant. Murphy questioned Burton’s explanation that the incident was part of a TikTok trend, asking where the supposed TikTok video was. His recording helped bring the incident to wider attention and was subsequently referenced in reporting about the investigation.

ALERT: Neurodivergent Wendy's employee tied to the grill because the manager “didn't want to babysit him.”

Nicholus Murphy, a co-worker at the Wendy's in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, found the man tied up and “wanted to cry.”

Michiko Burton, the manager who tied the employee up,… pic.twitter.com/7daBxSuNuy

— E X X ➠A L E R T S (@ExxAlerts) September 11, 2026

The circumstances also prompted questions about how an incident involving an employee could take place inside a workplace and be recorded by another worker. Police treated the matter as more than simply an inappropriate workplace incident after reviewing the circumstances, referring it to Adult Protective Services and assigning Special Victims Unit detectives to the investigation. The employee’s family has also been represented by attorney Isaac Kimes, who said the family was considering whether to pursue legal action.

Why Was Michiko Burton Arrested and What Charges Does She Face?

Burton’s arrest came after investigators obtained warrants following their review of the incident. The Murfreesboro Police Department said detectives served the warrant and charged the former Wendy’s manager with simple assault and false imprisonment. Police identified false imprisonment as a misdemeanor offense in their announcement, while Burton was also charged with misdemeanor simple assault.

Burton was booked into the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center and held on a $2,000 bond. According to the available court information reported after the arrest, she subsequently posted bond and was released. Her next scheduled court appearance is October 22 in General Sessions Court. Because the case remains a criminal proceeding, the allegations against Burton are allegations rather than a final determination of guilt.

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The investigation also developed after video of the incident became public. Murphy, who worked with the employee, said he recorded the footage after seeing his colleague restrained. The employee’s family then pushed for authorities to take another look at what had happened. Police later investigated the circumstances surrounding the video, the employee’s account and Burton’s own statement to investigators.

The employee involved has not been publicly identified in news reports, and reports have described him as neurodivergent. The term is generally used as an umbrella description for people whose brains function or develop differently, and can include conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia. In this particular case, police specifically described the Wendy’s employee as neurodivergent, but public reports have not disclosed a specific diagnosis.

The incident has also raised concerns because the alleged restraint occurred in a restaurant kitchen, where employees are expected to work around equipment and respond to workplace situations safely. The criminal charges, however, concern the alleged conduct itself, and the court proceedings will determine how the allegations are handled under Tennessee law.

What Happened to Michiko Burton at Wendy’s and What Comes Next?

Burton no longer works as a manager at the Murfreesboro Wendy’s. The restaurant’s area manager described the incident as “unacceptable” and confirmed that Burton was no longer a manager. The Wendy’s general manager also confirmed that a manager had been fired in connection with the incident. The franchisee operating the restaurant, Wendy’s of Bowling Green, said employee safety and well-being were priorities and that the behavior was inconsistent with the standards expected at its restaurants.

The company said that after learning about the situation, it investigated the matter and took appropriate action. It also said it remained committed to maintaining a respectful workplace in which employees are treated with dignity and respect. Burton’s removal from her managerial position therefore occurred before the criminal case reached its scheduled court date.

Nicholus Murphy has continued to speak publicly about why he recorded the incident. He said he felt compelled to speak up for his co-worker and expressed the view that the employee deserved someone to support him. His comments helped draw attention not only to the video but also to the circumstances surrounding the employee’s treatment inside the workplace.

The employee’s family has described the incident as traumatic through their attorney. Attorney Isaac Kimes said the family was considering possible legal action and described the situation as an extremely difficult experience for the young man. At the same time, police records indicate that the employee told officers he was not injured and was not upset when they initially spoke with him. These details are part of the evolving account of the incident and should be distinguished from the allegations that led to Burton’s criminal charges.

For now, the criminal case against Michiko Burton remains pending. She faces simple assault and false imprisonment charges, has been released on bond, and is scheduled to appear in court on October 22. The case began with an incident inside a Tennessee Wendy’s, but it quickly expanded into a police investigation after video surfaced and questions were raised about why a neurodivergent employee had been restrained at his workplace. Authorities, the employee’s family and the restaurant have all taken different steps since the incident, while the court process will determine the next stage of the case.