Embattled former professional guardian signs plea deal before trial

Rebecca Fierle could spend up to 5 years in prison

Full Story: https://wfts.tv/3SrZ86Y Former Florida professional guardian Rebecca Fierle, who was charged in 2020 in connection with the death of a man under her care, has entered into a plea deal.

By: Adam Walser

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Former Florida professional guardian Rebecca Fierle, who was charged in 2020 in connection with the death of a man under her care, has entered into a plea deal.

It’s the latest development in a story the ABC Action News I-Team has covered for over three years.

Fierle was supposed to stand trial next month on two felony charges, including aggravated abuse of an elderly person and neglect of an elderly person.

MARION COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

Her first trial, last September, lasted a week and ended in a hung jury.

During a pretrial hearing Wednesday, Fierle signed a plea agreement form pleading “no contest” to the charge of neglect of an elderly person.

That was the lesser included charge, but Fierle still could face up to five years in prison.

Credit: KIM STRYKER

Fierle was arrested in February 2020 in connection with the death of Stephen Stryker a year earlier.

Stryker depended on a feeding tube because of a medical condition that made swallowing hard for him.

But when Fierle couldn’t find a nursing home to manage his care, she ordered his feeding tube plugged.

Fierle then requested a “do not resuscitate” order from doctors at St. Joseph’s hospital in Tampa, where Stryker choked to death days later after telling staff he didn’t want to die.

The case drew national attention and led to changes in state law.

WFTS

Professional guardians must get a judge’s permission before signing a DNR order.

During the September trial, Fierle’s attorneys prevented jurors from hearing testimony or evidence about the DNR.

Fierle is scheduled to be sentenced by a Hillsborough County judge on March 23.

If you have a story you’d like the I-Team to investigate, email adam@abcactionnews.com

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Embattled former professional guardian signs plea deal before trial

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Florida Guardianship bill moves on to final vote

Bill undergoing final readings in Florida House, expected to go to vote Wednesday

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Tallahassee, FL – State lawmakers are now one step closer to making major changes to Florida’s guardianship law. The changes come after a former Central Florida guardian was caught placing do not resuscitate orders on clients without their permission. Right now lawmakers in the Florida House of Representatives are going through the final readings of the senate version of the Guardianship bill.

A news conference is scheduled for Thursday morning at the state capitol with the bill co-authors, Rep. Colleen Burton of Lakeland and Senator Kathleen Passidomo of Naples, along with Richard Prudom, the Secretary of Elder Affairs.

The bill passed unanimously in the Florida Senate last week and is expected to go up for a House vote tomorrow. Should it pass as expected, the bill will go to Governor DeSantis’ office to be signed into law. Last summer, DeSantis ordered a statewide probe into the guardianship program after state investigators launched a criminal investigation into Rebecca Fierle and the hundreds of guardianship cases she had across the state.

The measure entered as HB 709 and SB 994, would clamp down on what guardians would be allowed to do -- and create more supervision on cases involving vulnerable and elderly patients entrusted with their care. The bills come right on the heels of a court date being set for Rebecca Fierle.

She is a former guardian based out of Orlando who just last month was arrested on two felony counts of abuse and aggravated neglect. Body camera video from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office shows the arrest at her Ocala home. Fierle is scheduled for a court hearing on arraignment in Hillsborough County to face two felony counts on March 23rd.

Fierle was under a state criminal investigation for months over how she handled the case of Stephen Stryker, a Brevard County man who died at a Tampa hospital while under her care. State investigators allege she ordered his feeding tube to be capped and a DNR order to remain in place against the recommendations of doctors, and against Stryker's wishes. She is also being investigated for how she handled her clients' finances.

As a result of this case, Senator Kathleen Passidomo of Naples and Representative Colleen Burton of Lakeland have recommended stricter guidelines and more court supervision over what state guardians can and can't do. Fierle's former attorneys contend she acted within the current guidelines set forth by Florida law and did nothing wrong when she placed DNR orders on hundreds of clients without their permission, and without notifying the court.

The attorneys representing her in her criminal case have not responded to multiple requests for comment.

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Florida Guardianship bill moves on to final vote