A Texas woman, Regla “Su” Becquer, who operated several unlicensed boarding homes for disabled adults, is now facing a murder charge following the suspicious death of one of her residents. Arlington police have expanded their investigation to over 20 additional deaths linked to her facilities, authorities confirmed Thursday.
Becquer, 49, was charged with the murder of Steven “Kelly” Pankratz, 60, after an autopsy revealed that Pankratz was taking medication he had never been prescribed at the time of his death earlier this year. Arlington Police Department spokesperson Tim Ciesco mentioned that authorities are also conducting an autopsy on another resident, Karen Walker, who died in 2022.
“Through the course of the investigation, we have identified more than 20 clients of Ms. Becquer who have died since September 2022,” Ciesco stated. “For the past several months, our Behavioral Health Unit has been collaborating with our Homicide Unit to investigate each of these deaths to determine if any might be suspicious or potentially criminal.”
The murder charge against Becquer and the ongoing investigation into Walker’s death are the latest developments in the troubling saga surrounding Becquer’s company, Love and Caring for People LLC. This company, which ran boarding homes for disabled adults, was found to be riddled with problems. In a press conference, Officer Chris Powell of the Behavioral Health Unit described the findings as “incredibly disturbing.”
Powell states, “Families believed they were placing their sick relatives in a safe and well-checked environment. However, in some instances, the homes were not properly vetted.”
Becquer was initially arrested in February for endangering a resident and has been held at the Lon Evans Corrections Center in Fort Worth on a $1.5 million bail since then. The investigation has been challenging, as many of the deceased residents have already been cremated, buried, or had their bodies donated to science, complicating the collection of evidence.
Arlington police first alerted the public to the investigation in March, detailing multiple allegations of abuse, neglect, and fraud connected to Becquer’s boarding homes. Lieutenant Kimberly Harris explained at a press conference how the staff isolated residents from their families and administered substances to control them, preventing their escape.
“They would separate the individual from their family members,” Harris explained. “At night, they administered something to keep them subdued and prevent them from leaving.”
Detectives suspect Becquer and her staff neglected the residents, withheld medical care, and used residents’ money without their consent. They also believe the crew took possession of deceased clients’ properties, including phones and vehicles.
A local media source, citing court records, reported that two residents, including Walker, had left their estates to Becquer. Investigators are working to uncover more details about these transactions.
As the investigation continues, Arlington Police have established a tip line for additional victims or anyone with more information regarding the case. The disturbing revelations about Becquer’s operations underscore the need for stricter oversight of unlicensed care facilities to prevent such tragedies from happening in the future.