close
close

Texas woman at center of unlicensed assisted living facility charged with murder – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

An Arlington death linked to the investigation into an unlicensed assisted living business has been ruled a homicide, and now the woman who ran the group homes faces murder charges, Arlington police said.

Following allegations of neglect, theft, fraud and abuse, Arlington police launched an investigation into the deaths of at least 20 people who lived in five unlicensed group homes in Arlington and Mansfield.

Police initially charged Regla “Su” Becquer, owner of Love and Caring for People LLC, with endangering a person. Now the Tarrant County Coroner’s Office has ruled the death of one of the victims, Steven Pankratz, a homicide and ruled the cause of death to “mixed drug toxicity.”

The coroner’s report states that a mixture of “trazadone, tramadol and mirtazapine” was found in Pankrat’s body.

Becquer was already in Tarrant County Jail on previous endangerment charges when Arlington police charged her with murder in connection with Pankratz’s death.

Becquer’s bail was set at $750,000. Court documents filed June 14 in Tarrant County outlined bail conditions that include requiring Becquer to surrender her passport and wear a GPS leg monitor. She is also not allowed to leave Tarrant County or go near the airports. It is unclear if she has an attorney.

Police said the investigation into Becquer and her company, Love and Caring for People LLC, is ongoing.

Becquer had five assisted living facilities, but police said there could be more:

  • 1210 Woodbrook Street in Arlington
  • 7411 Lake Whitney Drive in Arlington
  • 7419 Fossil Creek Drive in Arlington
  • 2059 Turtle Cove Drive in Mansfield
  • 1852 Hidden Brook Drive in Grand Prairie

Officials have asked the public for help in locating other homes that may be operated by Becquer’s company. They would also like to speak with current or former clients of Love and Caring for People LLC and their family members.

Anyone with information is asked to call a special tip line run by the Arlington Police Department and the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office at 817-575-3230.