Elder Fraud Investigation targets Fierle
Rebecca Fierle Florida Guardian

The Spectrum News Watchdog team has followed the developments and uncovered details since that hearing. Below, we break down the case: who she is, what happened, and why Florida’s lawmakers are now looking into reforms for people who help handle the affairs of the state’s most vulnerable seniors.

 
WHO IS REBECCA FIERLE?
  • Florida licensed professional guardian.
  • Court appointed to care for at least 450 seniors in 13 counties.
PROFESSIONAL GUARDIANS:
  • Appointed to handle financial and legal matters when a person is unable to.
  • Duties include consenting to medical treatment, making end-of-life decisions.
  • Unlike public guardians, who are regulated by the state, professional guardians can take on as many wards as they want.
WHY IS FIERLE BEING INVESTIGATED?
Image
  • In May, Steven Stryker (right), a ward in Fierle’s care, died. STORY
  • Stryker’s family filed a complaint with the state.
  • They say Fierle refused to remove a “do not resuscitate” order she filed for Stryker against his wishes.
He definitely wanted to be resuscitated specifically, because he had a disorder that caused him to choke.
— Kimberly Stryker, daughter of Steven Stryker, in an interview with Greg Angel
Image
INVESTIGATIONS SO FAR:
  • Ninth Circuit Judge Janet Thorpe found Fierle “abused her powers” and developed conflicts of interest.
  • Also found Fierle filed DNR orders without court or family approval.
  • Thorpe removed Fierle from 98 cases in Orange, Osceola counties. STORY
COMPTROLLERS REPORT:
  • Orange County comptroller report says Fierle did not notify families of wards about court proceedings and asset sales. STORY
  • Fierle used wards’ money to make transactions that benefited Fierle family members without court knowledge.
  • Hired employees without notifying the courts.
OTHER COUNTIES:
  • Fierle subsequently removed from cases in Seminole, other counties.
  • Fierle resigned from all cases statewide. STORY
  • Office of Public and Professional Guardians investigated. STORY
STATE
RESPONSE
  • Guardian Program Director Carol Berkowitz abruptly resigned. STORY
  • Happened 1 day after Fierle was removed from Orange, Osceola cases.
  • Resignation came after discovery of a backlog of 80 complaints about guardians.
  • None of the complaints were directly related to Fierle.
The removal of this necessary care directly resulted in [Stryker’s] death.
 
  • FDLE raided Fierle’s office as part of investigation.
  • Cremated human remains found. STORY
 
WHAT COMES NEXT:
Image
  • In an exclusive Spectrum News interview, Elder Affairs Secretary Richard Prudom apologized for a complaint backlog within the department. STORY
  • Said he is working with Gov. Ron DeSantis on legislative reform.
  • DeSantis vowed “vigorous” investigation. STORY
  • Bipartisan Congressional bill aims to increase guardian oversight. STORY
“There is going to be action taken, whether it is administratively or legislative, or a combination. Something needs to be done.”
— Gov. Ron DeSantis
Information reported by Greg Angel and Curtis McCloud/Spectrum News
Infographic created by Christie Zizo/Spectrum News