Arlington, Texas — Regla Becquer, a 49-year-old caregiver and owner of multiple care facilities under the entity ‘Love and Caring for People,’ has become a central figure in a gruesome case involving the neglect and abuse of vulnerable adults. Arlington Police have charged Becquer with one count of murder following an investigation that linked her to 20 deaths over the last two years, amid allegations of severe neglect and financial exploitation.
The case came to light when law enforcement officials discovered a pattern of suspicious deaths among Becquer’s patients, many of whom were under her care when they passed away. Since September 2022, an additional seven patients have died, with many of these deaths occurring before the police initiated their investigation.
“Our investigation has uncovered deeply troubling practices in these homes,” Arlington Police Chief Al Jones stated. “These discoveries have prompted us to take immediate action to protect the remaining residents and delve deeper into the extent of potential criminal activities.”
According to investigative reports, the conditions in which the patients lived were disturbing. Patients were reportedly left in squalor, while Becquer allegedly siphoned off their finances. The homes, purportedly unlicensed, often served as the last resort for hospitals that could not place patients in licensed care facilities.
One particularly tragic case involved Kelly Pankratz, who died under Becquer’s care in January. His brother, Chris Devendorf, recalled ominous changes in Pankratz’s condition shortly after he moved into one of Becquer’s homes, which he described as rapid and alarming. “There was something different about him; he was not himself, and it all happened so fast,” Devendorf noted, alluding to a possible poisoning, an allegation that has yet to be substantiated by an autopsy.
The financial abuses are equally egregious, as former patients and their relatives accuse Becquer of draining their bank accounts. In one six-month period, it was alleged that Becquer spent $100,000 from Pankratz’s funds on seemingly frivolous online purchases, starkly contrasting his usually frugal lifestyle.
Additionally, investigators have highlighted a pattern wherein Becquer possibly manipulated patient placements to evade detection and kept patients isolated from their families. “People were transferred frequently between different homes, and it was nearly impossible to maintain any consistent contact,” a family friend of one victim reported.
The police also pointed to potential identity theft issues, with several patients reportedly having handed over their power of attorney to Becquer under suspicious circumstances. Moreover, a recent case involving the will of a deceased patient, hastily written just weeks before her death, is currently under investigation for forgery.
The broader implications of these allegations have prompted authorities to re-evaluate regulatory oversight in the region, especially as Dallas requires annual licensing for such homes, contrasting sharply with Arlington’s more lenient standards.
“These cases highlight a dire need for stricter regulatory oversight and more robust checks within our care systems,” a healthcare policy analyst commented, underscoring the potential for systemic abuse in unregulated environments.
As the investigation continues, Arlington police have vowed to leave no stone unturned. “We owe it to every victim and their families to get to the bottom of this, no matter where the evidence leads,” Chief Jones affirmed.
This case has not only captured local attention but also raises significant questions about the oversight of care homes, the financial and physical safety of the vulnerable, and the responsibilities of those entrusted with the care of the most helpless in society.