Steven “Kelly” Pankratz was referred to the “Love & Caring for People” care homes after developing a brain condition and hospitalization for sepsis. Pankratz later broke his ankle on the way home, making it difficult for him to get around, so he was placed under the care of Regla “Su” Becquer, who has owned the care company since 2022.
Throughout his stay at Love & Caring for People in Arlington, Texas, Pankratz’s family became increasingly concerned about his treatment. His brother, Chris Devendorf, received a call in January saying Pankratz had died, reports WFAA.
Devendorf claims Becquer, Pankratz’s caretaker, wouldn’t take him to 13 of his scheduled doctor’s appointments. As his health worsened, the family also struggled to get in touch with Pankratz for several months.
With family concerned about the real cause of Pankratz’s death, an official investigation started to point to Becquer and her care facilities. Reports from the Tarrant County Medical Examiner later ruled Pankratz’s death a homicide caused by a lethal mixture of painkillers and antidepressants.
In February, Becquer was arrested and charged with abandoning/ endangering an individual in imminent danger of bodily injury, according to an Arlington press release. Since then, police have linked almost 20 other cases of alleged killings to four of Becquer’s five care homes in the Arlington area and added murder charges to Becquer’s case.
According to KLIF, in the last two years, 13 of Becquer’s patients have died at several of her care homes — police and family of the deceased believe this is not a coincidence. Becquer is accused of poisoning her patients and also stealing from them.
In the case of Pankratz, over $100,000 was spent since he entered the facility, and family members say that was completely out of his character. In fact, Devendorf said several purchases were made online, but his brother did not own a phone or computer. “I don’t think it was him spending the money,” family friend Barton Gross said. “He was frugal. Kelly was frugal to the point of being almost cheap.”
Police believe Becquer was spending her patients’ money and stealing cars, homes, and possibly forging wills. Becquer is also accused of moving patients between her five homes in efforts to avoid detection and prevent families from close contact with victims.
Since Becquer’s arrest, several families have come out claiming the caregiver is also responsible for the deaths of their family members or friends.
According to police, “Many of the deceased clients had already been cremated, buried, or had their bodies donated to science, making it challenging to probe their deaths more thoroughly.”
Becquer’s bond has been set at $1.5 million dollars.