Mistrial declared in case of woman charged with client's abuse, neglect

Rebecca Fierle, a guardian to 75-year-old Steven Stryker, is accused of placing a "do not resuscitate" order on him. He died in May 2019. 

Author: Andrew Krietz, Hannah Dineen

TAMPA, Fla. — A Hillsborough County judge declared a mistrial Monday in the case of a former Florida guardian accused of causing the death of an elderly man in May 2019.

The judge issued the ruling when a jury deadlocked since deliberating in the case charging Rebecca Fierle with aggravated abuse and neglect of an elderly person, 75-year-old Steven Stryker. 

Jurors on Friday told the judge that they needed more time to deliberate the case. It resumed Monday with the judge telling them to take as much time as needed to reach a verdict before the mistrial was called.

Fierle was appointed to be Stryker's guardian in September 2018. A guardian is appointed to someone when they aren’t able to make medical and financial decisions for themselves. 

In 2019, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigated claims he did not want a "do not resuscitate" order and he had stated, many times, that he wanted to live. Fierle ordered his doctors not to perform any life-prolonging procedures, the FDLE said.

She reportedly ordered doctors at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa to cap Stryker's feeding tube.

Stryker died on May 13, 2019.

Fierle was arrested in February 2020. She allegedly placed "do not resuscitate" orders on other clients without their permission.

"All I can say is that this is extremely emotional for me. I’ve waited a long time to see her held accountable for how she treated my father," said the daughter of Stryker, Kim Stryker, to WKMG-TV at the time of Fierle's arrest. 

 

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Mistrial declared in case of woman charged with client's abuse, neglect

I-Team: Mistrial declared for woman who had the largest guardianship practice in Florida

by Danielle DaRos

TAMPA, Fla. (CBS12) — A judge declared a mistrial on Monday in the trial Rebecca Fierle, the woman considered to be Florida's most notorious guardian.

Fierle faced felony abuse charge related to the death of 75-year-old Steven Stryker, a ward in her care.

As the CBS12 News I-Team reported last year, Fierle had the largest guardianship practice in the state, overseeing the medical care and finances of more than 400 people spanning 19 counties.

A judge put her in charge of Stryker, and against his wishes, Fierle signed a "Do Not Resuscitate" order for him, and decided to cap his feeding tube.

Days later, he choked while in the hospital. Because of the DNR, hospital staff could not save him.

An investigation revealed Fierle had put DNRs on a number of her wards, and an audit found she collected millions of dollars in fees that were not authorized by courts.

Fierle was on trial for the abuse and neglect charge. The judge declared a mistrial for the case after a hung jury.

Her defense team told a jury she was doing her best to handle complicated cases, while prosecutors showed she only spoke to Stryker a few times before making life and death decisions for him.

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I-Team: Mistrial declared for woman who had the largest guardianship practice in Florida

Testimony wraps in trial of former professional guardian accused of elderly abuse

By: Adam Walser

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — On Thursday, the trial continued in the case of former professional guardian Rebecca Fierle, who was accused of contributing to the death of a man under her care.

Testimony wrapped up and both sides rested after the jury heard from more than a dozen total witnesses. Fierle did not take the stand in her own defense.

She is charged with felony, aggravated abuse of an elderly person, and neglect of an elderly person. Fierle was appointed by a judge to be Steven Stryker‘s guardian in 2018 after Stryker was baker acted and ended up in an Orlando hospital.

Investigators said Fierle allegedly ordered his feeding tube to be capped and requested a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order against his wishes while he was a patient at Saint Joseph’s hospital in May 2019. The record showed that he choked to death five days later.

Several experts testified for the defense on Thursday about Stryker's medical, psychological and behavioral problems that led to the guardianship and made it difficult for Fierle to find a place for him to live. 

Stryker was a convicted sex offender who pleaded guilty to charges that he exposed himself in 2000 while intoxicated. That meant nursing homes wouldn’t take him and assisted living facilities couldn't care for him.

Several experts also testified about Stryker's poor health prognosis at the time of his death.

"He was a sick man and it was just a question of time for this guy to have expired naturally," said Dr. Philip Atigre who treated Stryker.

After being asked whether having or not having a feeding tube would have a good outcome for Stryker, Dr. Arigre said, "next to none."

The jury will return Friday at 8:30 a.m. to hear their instructions and opening statements, then begin their deliberations.

Full Article & Source:

Testimony wraps in trial of former professional guardian accused of elderly abuse 

 

 

 

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Trial scheduled to begin for former professional guardian accused in man's death

 

Opening state­ments Wednesday in trial of ousted Central Florida guardian

By Jason Lanning

TAMPA, Fla. — Opening statements are scheduled to start on Wednesday in the trial of a former Central Florida guardian.

Rebecca Fierle, the professional guardian ousted from hundreds of cases following the death of a ward in her care, is facing charges of abusing and neglecting an incapacitated client.

The case sparked a statewide scandal in Florida’s guardianship system and eventually led to new laws in 2020 to better protect seniors.

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What You Need To Know

• Professional guardian on trial after the death of seniors in her care


• Rebecca Fierle facing charges of abusing and neglecting an incapacitated client


• Fierle oversaw the medical care of dozens of seniors across the state; case led to new laws in 2020 to better protect seniors

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Fierle oversaw the medical care of dozens of seniors across the state, but that came to a halt in May of 2019. The family of 74-year-old Steven Stryker, one of her patients, says she issued a do not resuscitate order for Stryker, even though he wanted to live.

According to Stryker's daughter Kim, that's what happened on May 13, 2019, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa. Because of the DNR order from Fierle, hospital staff couldn't work to help Stryker and he died as a result.

The case now has Fierle facing charges of abusing and neglecting the elder Stryker. A jury was selected Tuesday.

The case forced a state investigation into the guardianship program in Orange County. It found a dozen problem cases out of 3,000 dating back to 2007. There had been eight prior complaints concerning Fierle before the Stryker case.

Rebecca Fierle, the professional guardian ousted from hundreds of cases following the death of a ward in her care, is facing charges of abusing and neglecting an incapacitated client. (Marion Co. Sheriff's Office)

Fierlie resigned as a result of the audit and was removed from 98 patient cases in Orange and Osceola counties.

The case ultimately drove lawmakers to unanimously vote to amend Florida's guardianship law in 2020. The law required permission from a family member or judge before requesting a DNR order.

Since her arrest, Fierle has not talked to the media.

It's unclear how long this trial will last or exactly how long she could spend in prison if convicted.

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Full Article & Source:

Opening state­ments Wednesday in trial of ousted Central Florida guardian 

 

See Also: 

Orlando guardian’s client wanted to live, but she overruled him, hospital staff testify

 

Trial scheduled to begin for former professional guardian accused in man's death

 

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