Brandy Marie Doster, 54, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to felony charges tied to the death of a disabled woman in her care. The Oct. 6 sentencing in Comal County came after prosecutors described prolonged abuse and medical neglect they say led to the victim’s death. Doster also received a concurrent 10-year term on a related injury count.
Prosecutors said Doster pleaded guilty to Injury to a Disabled Individual — Causing Serious Bodily Injury as part of a plea agreement. The case began after a 911 call on May 21, 2023, when New Braunfels police found the victim wrapped in an emergency blanket in the backseat of a vehicle parked in a garage. Medical examiners determined the woman’s arm had been broken “completely in half,” left untreated, and progressed to necrosis and fatal sepsis, according to News 4 San Antonio (WOAI).
Allegations From Family And Investigators
The victim’s family had hired Doster as a longtime, full-time in-home caregiver, saying they paid her roughly $70,000 a year and provided housing and use of the woman’s vehicle. Doster’s estranged daughter told police she witnessed Doster tying the victim’s hands and feet to furniture, striking or slapping her in ways that caused falls, and placing a sock in the woman’s mouth to muffle cries. Doster initially told detectives she had “blacked out,” but later said she knew about the broken arm and planned to seek medical care after other errands.
Prosecutors Say The Abuse Was Deliberate
Comal County prosecutors argued that medical findings and witness statements showed “ongoing abuse, neglect and deliberate disregard” for a vulnerable person, and noted Doster was not a licensed caregiver in Texas. They said the untreated fracture led to severe infection and tissue death that progressed to sepsis and the victim’s death, underscoring broader concerns about oversight of private caregivers and the risks of isolating medically vulnerable adults, as reported by News 4 San Antonio (WOAI).
Charges And Legal Context
Prosecutors charged the case under the Texas “injury to a disabled individual” statute, which, when serious bodily injury results, allows for felony penalties carrying decades of prison exposure. The law includes enhanced penalties for harm to children, elderly people, and disabled individuals, and is aimed at holding paid caretakers accountable for severe neglect and abuse. See Texas Penal Code § 22.04 for the statute’s language and penalty framework.
Records And Contacts
The Comal County Criminal District Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case, and related court records are available through the county docket. For filings or contact information, consult the district attorney’s office or the district clerk’s public records: Comal County Criminal District Attorney.
