Woman receives guardianship termination after sharing her story with KMBC 9 Investigates

by Matt Flener

FARMINGTON, Mo. — Chiro Richey walked out of a nursing home on Tuesday with a laundry basket full of clothes under her right arm.

Nursing home staffers pushed a cart full of her belongings to load into her friend’s car.

After more than 10 years as a ward of the state of Missouri, Richey was finally free, her rights restored.

“I feel great,” she told KMBC 9 Investigates over the phone.

Five hours across the state, Buchanan County judge David Bolander had just approved her release, after months of delays in obtaining a psychiatric evaluation to determine if she was eligible for release from guardianship.

Richey will now live with a friend, seek surgery for a foot injury, and ultimately aim for college.

KMBC has followed Richey’s story in an ongoing investigation into Missouri’s public guardianship system called Paper Prisons, highlighting the difficulties of wards of the state and their families under Missouri’s system of public guardianship.

KMBC is investigating ways to systemically improve the care of those under guardianship by telling stories of people struggling to navigate a tangled system of legal paperwork, medical records, and court orders. KMBC is also seeking answers, perspective, and context from those in charge of keeping wards of the state in their care for their recommendations on how to improve the system.

Dozens of people like Richey have spoken with KMBC seeking help with their Missouri guardianship cases, as they push for better living conditions, access to care, and help from their guardians.

Buchanan County Public Administrator Brad Haggard advocated for Richey’s mental health evaluation and eventual release. Haggard said it took longer than needed for Richey to get seen. He has also advocated for improvements to bring more wards closer to their home.

“[The] system needs improved,” Haggard said. “That's really the bottom line. There's lots of areas of it that needs improved.”

Haggard wished Richey well and has advocated for her to receive help through a transitional state program.

"I think the system needs improved and, you know, I can do a little bit in my world here, but I think a message needs to be out there."

Richey believes it is important for anyone seeking help with guardianship to speak up.

“I believe that with me going out with my story and with you guys putting it out there for others, people can relate, or other people's family members might catch on and say, ‘Hey, you know, there's hope.”

Chiro Richey was one of more than an estimated 11,000 people in Missouri under public guardianship.

Read more about Chiro Richey’s story here.

If you know of someone going through struggles with Missouri’s public guardianship system, or if you have a case to highlight that exposes solutions for Missouri’s public guardianship system that could teach lessons to others, please email investigates@kmbc.com. 

Full Article & Source:
Woman receives guardianship termination after sharing her story with KMBC 9 Investigates 

See Also:
Paper Prisons: Missouri woman seeking release from public guardianship

Missouri woman shares journey of restoration from public guardianship 

Judge questions former Sullivan County public guardian about multiple guardianship cases 

Judge: Missouri public guardian’s felony financial crime case can move forward

Missouri public guardian pleads not guilty to eight felony counts

Missouri elected guardian charged with 8 felonies for stealing from ward

Paper Prisons: Missouri woman details struggle to leave public guardianship after husband's death

Paper Prisons: Missouri man continues fight to free his mother from public guardianship 

Sullivan County elected official accused of stealing thousands from disabled person   

Guardianship rights may have fueled woman's actions for allegedly shooting 2 lawyers outside courthouse

By Shirley Henderson 

Disappointment over losing guardianship rights over her mother may have fueled the actions of a North Carolina woman who has been accused of the nonfatal shooting of two lawyers outside a courthouse following a hearing for a civil case.

Gwendolyn White, 57, of Raleigh, North Carolina, was recently arrested and charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder for allegedly shooting Mary Harris and Jeffrey Whitley—two Fox Rothschild lawyers representing the Rolesville Police Department in North Carolina.

White “became belligerent in court” and was reportedly ordered to leave the courtroom of the Wake County Courthouse in Raleigh, North Carolina. Witnesses said allegedly she went to her car to get a gun and returned to the courthouse where both lawyers were exiting the building. They are expected to recover from their wounds, according to coverage by Law.com and WRAL.

During White’s court appearance following the shooting, she expressed concern about her mother, Elleen White, not receiving proper care. In 2024, Wake County Health and Human Services sought to find a third-party guardian for Elleen White, noting that regarding Gwendolyn White, there were “concerns about caretaker neglect and the fitness of the caretaker to continue serving in that role,” according to court documents.

Posts on social media and filings in court show that White believed that the Rolesville Police Department was involved in “a racist conspiracy” to kill her and her mother, who died last year at age 90 in a nursing home, according to the Raleigh News & Observer. 

Full Article & Source:
Guardianship rights may have fueled woman's actions for allegedly shooting 2 lawyers outside courthouse

See Also:
Woman accused of shooting two attorneys failed in caring for elderly mother, court documents show

SAPD: Nursing assistant accused of exploiting 79-year-old woman at nursing home with Alzheimer’s

Nate Kotisso, Digital Journalist
Katrina Webber, Reporter

Destiny Lashell Houston, 36, is facing 3 felonies, records show

San Antonio police arrested Destiny Houston, who investigators believe paid for personal items with a debit card that belonged to a 79-year-old resident at a North Side nursing home. (Bexar County Sheriff's Office)

SAN ANTONIO – Police arrested a certified nursing assistant who investigators believe paid for personal items with a debit card that belonged to a 79-year-old resident at a North Side nursing home.

The San Antonio Police Department took Destiny Lashell Houston, 36, into custody Tuesday afternoon on the following charges, which are all considered third-degree felonies:

• Exploitation of an elderly individual
• Abuse of a credit card or debit card belonging to an elderly individual
• Fraudulent use or possession of items belonging to an elderly individual

At the time of the alleged crimes, police said Houston worked directly with the victim as a certified nursing assistant at The Forum at Lincoln Heights, a nursing home located in the 300 block of Nottingham Drive.

‘Numerous purchases’

Authorities said the victim, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2024, moved into the facility’s mental care unit in June 2025. Due to the diagnosis, the victim’s daughter is in charge of her mother’s financial accounts in order to pay bills and monitor expenses, the affidavit states.

In August 2025, the victim’s daughter checked one of the accounts and noticed “numerous purchases” were made with the victim’s debit card over multiple days, according to police. SAPD said one purchase was made at a vending machine inside the nursing home’s employee lounge. 

After checking her mother’s wallet, investigators said her daughter learned that the victim’s cards were missing and subsequently filed a report with SAPD.

Suspect denies allegations

Detectives said they obtained surveillance videos and photos of Houston from several stores where the debit card was used. Investigators showed the pictures to supervisors at the nursing home, who identified Houston as the woman in those photos.

In an interview with police, Houston admitted that she was the person in the surveillance photos.

However, she denied using the victim’s debit card. According to the affidavit, Houston told police that the card she used was a “gift card” she found on the floor at the nursing home.

Houston bonded out of jail just after 10 p.m. Tuesday, according to jail records. She is expected to make her next court appearance on Aug. 24. 

Full Article & Source:
SAPD: Nursing assistant accused of exploiting 79-year-old woman at nursing home with Alzheimer’s 

Riviera Beach man accused of exploiting grandma with severe dementia to control finances

by Grace Bellinghausen 

Police say a Riviera Beach man quietly took control of his grandmother’s home, finances, and care by exploiting her worsening dementia. (Palm Beach County Jail, Getty Images)

RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Police say a Riviera Beach man quietly took control of his grandmother’s home, finances, and care by exploiting her worsening dementia.

According to a Riviera Beach Police Department probable cause affidavit, the investigation began on February 5 after a family member reported concerns that her 71-year-old mother was being taken advantage of by her grandson, 52-year-old Roderick Mitchell.

The family member told police she had served as her mother’s power of attorney since 2006, after severe dementia left the woman unable to make major decisions.

But in 2025, she said Mitchell transferred power of attorney to himself and executed a quitclaim deed on his grandmother’s home without her knowledge.

The victim alleged Mitchell, who lived in the home, prevented family members from checking on her welfare and at times threatened to burn the house down. The allegations were referred to the Florida Department of Children and Families, which opened an elder abuse investigation.

DCF investigators determined the woman was a vulnerable adult with severe dementia, diabetes, and mobility issues requiring a walker. The report stated Mitchell acted as her caregiver but was not acting in her best interest, raising concerns about missed insulin care, alcohol use, and aggressive behavior when intoxicated.

Mitchell reportedly acknowledged to investigators that he drank alcohol and did not personally administer insulin, instead relying on others for injections. He also admitted making decisions regarding power of attorney and property without consulting the victim or family members, claiming he was protecting the home.

A doctor who had treated her since 2018 reported progressive cognitive decline and stated in a 2025 letter that she required round-the-clock care and could not manage her finances, according to documents obtained by police.

Investigators also alleged Mitchell filed a second fraudulent quitclaim deed in April 2026 listing a suspicious address tied to a junkyard. Authorities said he later invoked his right to an attorney during questioning.

Detectives ultimately charged Mitchell with multiple felonies, including exploitation of an elderly person, fraudulent use of personal identification, grand theft over $50,000, and filing false documents involving real property.

On Saturday, officers located Mitchell in Riviera Beach and arrested him without incident. He was booked and later transferred to the Palm Beach County Jail. 

Full Article & Source:
Riviera Beach man accused of exploiting grandma with severe dementia to control finances 

Missouri woman accused of exploiting elderly person out of nearly $22K

by: Nikki Nguyen 

WARRENTON, Mo. – A Warren County woman faces felony charges after investigators say she exploited an elderly person out of tens of thousands of dollars while serving as the victim’s power of attorney.

Special investigators with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services allege that Johnnie M. Barry used the victim’s funds for her own personal benefit between July 2022 and August 2025.

According to a probable cause statement, Barry deposited 25 unauthorized checks from the victim’s bank accounts into her personal Chase Bank account, totaling $4,726. Investigators said she used an additional $17,211.18 from the victim’s accounts to pay her own expenses, bringing the total alleged loss to $21,937.18.

In addition, Barry failed to pay the victim’s mortgage, credit card bills, and homeowners’ association dues, placing the victim at risk of foreclosure, investigators said. She’s also accused of submitting mortgage modification documents in March 2026 after her power of attorney had been revoked and signed documents on the victim’s behalf without authorization.

The victim told investigators they did not sign the checks and could not do so following multiple strokes.

The Warren County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Barry with financial exploitation of an elderly/disabled person and forgery. Barry remains jailed without bond. She has a confined docket hearing scheduled for Tuesday, June 2. 

Full Article & Source:
Missouri woman accused of exploiting elderly person out of nearly $22K 

Liz Lazarus Releases New Psychological Thriller Raising Awareness of Guardianship Abuse

News Provided By

BookTrib

May 28, 2026, 14:15 GMT 

 

Inspired by Real Events, "Dawn Before Darkness" Arrives May 26

After a ten-year ordeal regarding guardianship of my mom, I saw firsthand how broken the system can be. It’s important for families to know that this kind of thing can — and does — happen.”

— Liz Lazarus

ATLANTA, GA, UNITED STATES, May 28, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- As conversations around elder care, conservatorships and guardianship abuse continue to grow nationwide, author Liz Lazarus is using fiction to shine a light on a frightening reality many families never see coming.

In her latest psychological thriller, "Dawn Before Darkness," published this week, Lazarus connects a suspenseful stalking plot with a real-world issue affecting aging families: the risk that guardianship and conservatorship proceedings can become a legal battleground.

Published by Mitchell Cove Publishing, the novel follows Dawn Smith, a veterinary technician in rural South Carolina, who ends a relationship after discovering her new boyfriend has lied to her. When he begins stalking and harassing her in increasingly invasive ways, Dawn seeks legal protection. But the threat soon expands beyond her own safety when he uses the guardianship and conservatorship system to target Dawn’s vulnerable mother, forcing Dawn into a fight for control over her mother’s wellbeing. The result is a thriller rooted not only in psychological tension, but in the terrifying plausibility of institutional manipulation.

The novel was inspired in part by Lazarus’ own prolonged legal battle involving guardianship of her mother.

“We’ve all heard heart-wrenching stories about the court system taking children away from their parents, presumably because the adults were unfit in some way,” Lazarus said. “What I didn’t understand is that it’s also possible for the system to take the oversight of aging parents away from their adult children.”

Lazarus said her own experience revealed how difficult these cases can be for families.

“After a ten-year ordeal regarding guardianship of my mom, I saw firsthand how broken the system can be,” Lazarus said. “It’s important for families to know that this kind of thing can — and does — happen.”

While the novel is fiction, Lazarus uses the thriller form to explore issues around elder care, legal vulnerability, manipulation, stalking and the emotional cost of trying to protect a loved one when institutions built to protect the vulnerable fail.

In addition to drawing from her own guardianship battle, Lazarus interviewed women who survived stalking and harassment in order to build the psychological profile of the novel’s antagonist. “I wanted to fictionalize stories that showed how helpless victims felt and how little could be done to really protect them,” she said. “Dozens of volunteers came forward. I ended up interviewing ten women and combined their accounts to create my super villain.”

Lazarus balances the novel’s themes with emotionally grounded relationships and vivid details from veterinary medicine, another major element of the story. The novel’s clinic scenes, involving neglected pets, emergency procedures and “compassion fatigue,” grew out of conversations with real veterinary technicians. “These professionals make difficult decisions every day. Animals are mirrors of our own humanity, and in the novel, Dawn’s decisions at work reflect her overall struggle, trying to do the right thing, but coming up against limitations of what she can and cannot do for the animals under her care.”

Early reviews have noted the novel’s blend of suspense and social relevance. Midwest Book Review called "Dawn Before Darkness" an “immersive thriller” that is “replete with action, discovery, challenge, and tests of one woman’s strengths and convictions.” Rick Black, Founder of CLEAR, Center for Estate Administration Reform, praised Lazarus’ “accurate depiction of how easily the elderly can be trapped and how helpless their family can feel as they fight to protect a loved one.”

Terry Shepherd, author of The Jessica Ramirez Thrillers and host of In Conversation with Terry Shepherd, described the novel as depicting “a bureaucratic nightmare,” in which “the antagonist does not strike with fists but with filings, motions, and insinuations,” adding that the novel is “chilling precisely because it is so plausible.”

"Dawn Before Darkness" is Lazarus’ fourth novel, following "Free of Malice," "Plea for Justice" and "Shades of Silence." Her novels feature intelligent female protagonists confronting legal and emotional danger while navigating timely social issues.

"Dawn Before Darkness" is available beginning May 26, 2026. Learn more at www.lizlazarus.com.

ABOUT LIZ LAZARUS
Liz Lazarus writes fast-paced psychological thrillers featuring intelligent female protagonists confronting legal and emotional danger. She graduated from Georgia Tech with an engineering degree and earned an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management. She has worked as an executive at General Electric’s Healthcare division, as Managing Director at a consulting firm and as Head of Operations for a healthcare start-up. She was raised in Georgia and now splits her time between Atlanta, Georgia and Bozeman, Montana.

MEDIA CONTACT
kimfromla (at) earthlink (dot) net
www.kimfromla.com
323-655-6023

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Liz Lazarus Releases New Psychological Thriller Raising Awareness of Guardianship Abuse

Suspended Jefferson County probate judge accused of election interference in new lawsuit

Story by Joseph D. Bryant

A candidate who lost when she ran for the State Legislature is accusing embattled Jefferson County Probate Judge Yashiba Blanchard of impropriety during the recent election and wants a circuit court clerk to intervene.

Mara Ruffin Blackmon, who ran for House District 57, said issues warrant “immediate investigation and preservation of records to protect voter confidence and the integrity of the electoral process,” according to her complaint filed this week in the Bessemer Circuit Court. 

Blackmon in her May 22 court filing, contends that Blanchard’s association with Rep. Patrick Sellers, whom Ruffin challenged in the Democratic primary, created a conflict that prevented her from being fair.

Sellers, a Democrat from Pleasant Grove, defeated Blackmon with 61.14% to 32.79% to win a second term.

“The lawsuit is frivolous,” Sellers told AL.com Wednesday. “There was a very expressive and declarative win. We need to get back to business as usual.”

AL.com’s efforts to reach Blackmon and Blanchard were unsuccessful this afternoon.

Blackmon’s complaint lists Blanchard and Sellers by name as defendants along with unnamed election chief inspectors.

The filing is the latest controversy connected to Blanchard, and was lodged just a day after Blanchard was suspended from the bench following a 120-page state complaint that accuses her of several infractions, including bullying and other misconduct.

The probate judge is also the chief elections official in Jefferson County.

“Plaintiff alleges that Judge Yashiba Blanchard maintained a relationship with Defendant Patrick Sellers that raises concern regarding impartial election administration,” Blackmon writes.

For example, Blackmon notes that Judge Blanchard has hired two of Sellers’ sisters to her staff, including Deputy Probate Judge Jacqueline Knox, who leads the Bessemer office.

“Plaintiff alleges that these overlapping relationships are relevant to concerns regarding: impartial election administration, poll worker supervision, staffing assignments, election management and public confidence in the neutrality of election operations,” the complaint reads.

Specifically, Blackmon alleges that Blanchard invited her to dinner in January where she offered to pay Blackmon’s campaign expenses if she withdrew from the race against Sellers.

Blackmon also challenges the appropriateness of using Sellers’ church in Birmingham as a polling place, along with alleged impropriety at other sites in Birmingham and Midfield.

“Plaintiff further alleges that individuals serving as poll watchers or otherwise associated with polling activities escort voters into precincts and transported ballots to vehicles outside polling locations,” Blackmon says in her complaint.

Blanchard has been sidelined from her public duties following the state report alleging numerous violations of judicial conduct unrelated to Blackmon’s lawsuit.

While not directly related, Blackmon, in her complaint, said the state investigation should “raise additional public confidence concerns regarding election administration, impartiality, oversight and procedural integrity.” 

Full Article & Source:
Suspended Jefferson County probate judge accused of election interference in new lawsuit 

See Also:
Jefferson County judge suspended, complaint says she called herself “ultimate authority”

Glamorous judge accused of bullying, intimidation and delaying cases so she could take her DOGS for a walk 

Woman accused of shooting two attorneys failed in caring for elderly mother, court documents show

Newly uncovered court documents reveal that prior to her arrest for shooting two lawyers outside a courthouse, Gwendolyn White was stripped of her mother's guardianship following multiple county investigations into caretaker neglect. 

By Shaun Gallagher, WRAL reporter  

Shortly before being arrested for allegedly shooting two lawyers outside of the courthouse, Gwendolyn White expressed the reason she continued her legal fight during a hearing over the release of body camera footage.

“My job right here is to get justice for her, whether you like me or not,” White can be heard during an audio recording of that hearing.

The court case had nothing to do with White’s mother. It was part of an ongoing legal battle with Rolesville Police Department over body camera footage from an incident near White’s home in 2021.

But White’s mother, Elleen, is a heavy focus of her online footprint. Specifically, her concerns that her mother’s death was caused by improper care.

But newly discovered court documents show the County believed Gwendolyn White was the one failing her mother.

Wake County Health and Human Services (WCHHS) filed a case in 2024 to find a third-party guardian for Elleen White. It cites a specific incident the month before.

Gwendolyn White dropped her mother off at the hospital in October 2024 for an issue. Nine days later, it was resolved and she was ready to be discharged but says White, “was unwilling to allow [Elleen] to come home and unwilling to work with the hospital on other discharge options.” The document continues saying, “Gwendolyn White was either unwilling or unable to agree to placement options." 

Gwendolyn White’s interactions with other facilities prevented other locations from taking in Elleen according to the court documents.

“No skilled nursing facility is currently willing to accept [Elleen] as a resident due to Gwen's documented behavior and disruption in [Elleen's] care," the document reads.

This was the fourth time WCHHS was contacted in a year and a half over, “concerns about caretaker neglect and the fitness of the caretaker to continue serving in that role,” according to court documents.

Gwendolyn White has a well-documented social media presence, claiming her mother’s death was due to poor care, including an online fundraiser calling for justice for elder abuse and neglect. It’s a fundraiser that had raised roughly $440 before last week’s shooting. It’s ballooned to over $6,000 as of Friday afternoon.

The fundraiser reads, “The Daughter has never neglected her mother period in 39 years and wouldn’t.”

However, the county court's decision indicates it disagrees with White’s sentiment.

It assigned a third-party guardian to Elleen White’s care, saying, “Elleen White is at imminent risk of harm given her daughter’s refusal to permit mother’s discharge or participate in good faith in planning said discharge.”

White’s mental health in a criminal case was also cited in these court documents related to her mother’s care.

A court order was entered on May 3, 2024, “finding Gwen was not capable of proceeding to trial” in a misdemeanor stalking case. The court ordered White to participate in the Community Based Restoration Program at Elwyn Health Resources for examination and treatment until necessary to help White gain capacity to proceed if possible.

It’s a ruling White disagreed with, saying her son lied about her mental health and that “false information was entered into her medical record,” which she was trying to have removed. 

Full Article & Source:
Woman accused of shooting two attorneys failed in caring for elderly mother, court documents show

Man from California convicted of trying to scam a 92-year-old woman in Pelham

Source:
Man from California convicted of trying to scam a 92-year-old woman in Pelham