Family of victim sues unlicensed care facility owner who has been charged with murder

The family of a man who lived in an unlicensed community care home in the Dallas-Fort Worth area filed a civil suit Thursday after his death was ruled a homicide.

Steven Pankratz, 60, died in January after living for about 15 months in an Mansfield home owned by the company Love and Caring for People. The medical examiner said Pankratz died of “mixed drug toxicity” caused by a combination of the prescription drugs trazodone, tramadol and mirtazapine. Arlington police said some of the medication given to Pankratz was not prescribed by a doctor. The death was ruled a homicide.

The civil suit was filed by Christopher Devendorf, Pankratz’s brother, and he is seeking more than $1 million in damages. The defendants in the case are Love and Caring for People and its owner Regla Becquer; Placing Russell, LLC; Pac Res Spec IV, LLC and one of its managing members, Adam Habig.

The attorney representing Becquer in her ongoing criminal case declined to comment.

One of the owners of Placing Russell offered her condolences.

“His brother lost his life and I’m, you know, deeply regretful and sorry that that happened, and I am very upset,” Carol Hayes, one of the owners of Placing Russell said. Placing Russell is an organization that “advis[es] Seniors and Adults with disabilities on living options and resources, regardless of income,” according to their website.

Hayes said that Placing Russell will be retaining an attorney.

“We did not pick the place for him. We do not work for [Becquer]. We did not work in her homes” she said. “I’ve never met her in person. I’ve only spoken with her over the phone, so I do not have any connection to her, other than giving options to families on on placement like other agencies do.”

Online court records do not have attorneys listed for Habig or any of the other defendants.

Pankratz was first admitted to the assisted living facility after he was discharged from Baylor Scott & White Family Health Center in late October 2022. While he was living in the facility, his health declined, and the defendants in the case took advantage of him financially, the suit says.

“Upon information and belief, Defendants utilized [Pankratz]’s credit, financial accounts, documents governing estates and medical disorientation to profit financially in a variety of manners, and in this case even purchase an automobile,” the lawsuit says. “This was a pattern followed with regards to a wide variety of residents at the various properties owned by Defendants.”

The lawsuit lists 16 charges, including assault and battery, fraud, and violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

“If we can bring awareness to this, and, you know, help prevent this from happening in the future, that would be the greater goal,” Dan Moore, the attorney representing Devendorf, said.

Becquer, 49, was arrested Feb. 15 and she now faces a charge of abandoning or endangering an individual, leading to imminent danger of bodily injury and a charge of murder.

Arlington police officials say they are now aware that at least 20 people have died under the care of Becquer at her facilities since fall 2022. However, the investigation may be hindered by the disposal of the involved bodies, police said Wednesday.

Police have said Becquer operated care facilities at:

• 1210 Woodbrook St. 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