A North Texas woman is facing charges of neglect and abuse in a case involving five group homes for disabled adults, authorities in Arlington reported. The operator, identified as Regla Su Becquer of Loving and Caring for People LLC, has been arrested amid an ongoing investigation into the alleged mistreatment of individuals under her care.
These incidents were brought to light following a resident's desperate plea for help, which prompted a four-month investigation by local authorities. A neighbor recounted to FOX 4 News how they were approached by an elderly man who appeared to be suffering from cerebral palsy, asking to call 911 to escape. "He asked me to call 911 ‘cause he was trying to escape. So we called the cops and got them out here with the ambulance and fire trucks and stuff, and they’ve been out here a couple of times since," the neighbor said.
Abuse and neglect at the Arlington, Mansfield, and Grand Prairie homes included residents being unable to move or leave their beds, some without wheelchair access, and authorities discovered scars on individuals from having to crawl, FOX 4 News reports. Further allegations suggest that Becquer abused residents' debit cards and retained possessions of deceased clients, including vehicles.
Arlington Police Lt. Kimberly Harris, who leads the department’s behavioral health unit, expressed her outrage in an interview: "I’m angry," Harris said. "Some of these individuals were not mobile. They were unable to leave their bed, or they were wheelchair-bound. In one instance, a gentleman was wheelchair-bound, however, he had no wheelchair at home and was unable to go around or get anywhere in the house. He had to crawl. He had scars from crawling around." Police have established a tipline for potential victims to come forward and share their experiences.
There is concern that there may to be more undiscovered locations where others could be suffering in silence, Sioux County Radio reported. Arlington Police Officer Chris Powell highlighted the ease with which these group homes can begin operation and the simplicity of getting referrals, suggesting a need for further scrutiny in the industry to prevent such alleged abuses.
