New charges, new investigation involving embattled former professional guardians

I-Team has investigate both cases for months

By: Adam Walser

OCALA, Fla. -- Disgraced former professional guardian Rebecca Fierle was arrested and is facing two felony charges after an eight-month police investigation.

Her arrest comes at the same time a Pinellas County judge ordered auditors to open a new investigation into another guardian -- Traci Hudson -- who is accused of stealing money from an elderly man.

After spending the night in jail, Fierle wouldn’t answer reporters’ questions Tuesday morning, as she walked out of the Marion County Jail after posting bond.

Fierle was arrested Monday night for aggravated abuse of an elderly person and neglect of an elderly person.

Both crimes are felonies.

The charges involve the death of Steven Stryker, a man under her care who died at St. Joseph's Hospital last May after investigators say Fierle plugged his feeding tube and ordered a do not resuscitate order against his wishes.

Fierle wouldn't answer our questions either in July after a judge removed her from nearly 100 cases.

The Price of Protection

The allegations against Fierle were first brought up in a July report for the Florida Office of Public and Professional Guardians.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody wouldn't say why it took eight months to arrest Fierle.
A spokesperson told the I-Team it is still an active, ongoing investigation.

Documents we obtained show investigators didn’t interview the hospital staff at St. Joseph’s until September, about four months after Stryker’s death.

The arrest warrant was signed by a judge February 10, the day of Fierle’s arrest at one of her homes in Ocala.

She will stand trial on the charges in Hillsborough County, but an arraignment date has not yet been set.

In Pinellas County, a judge ordered the Office of Inspector General to investigate embattled former professional guardian Traci Hudson for "concerns about the care and well-being of people and property under her care."

Hudson was arrested in November, accused of stealing more than $500,000 as the power of attorney for an elderly man.

The order is a reversal for Judge Pam Campbell, who previously said she believed it was an isolated incident.

“None of us, and we've all conferred about it, are aware of any kinds of improprieties in the guardianship cases,” she said in November, at a hearing following Hudson’s arrest.

Hudson is scheduled to appear in court in April on that criminal case. An arraignment hearing for Fierle will be set in the next 30 days.

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New charges, new investigation involving embattled former professional guardians