Department of Mental Health opened abuse inquiries at Second Chance Homes

Missouri Department of Mental Health logo
Missouri Department of Mental Health logo

Several new investigations into potential abuse and neglect at Second Chance Homes of Fulton were launched after Carl DeBrodie's disappearance, according to documents released by Callaway County Special Services (CCSS).

The documents, on which names are redacted, include emails CCSS officials received from officials at the Missouri Department of Mental Health to notify them of new DMH inquiries.

"CCSS does not conduct investigations from the Department of Mental Health, but CCSS does receive a notice from DMH's regional office when an investigation is occurring with respect to a client," Special Services Executive Director Julia Kaufmann said.

One April 19 email appears to pertain to DeBrodie's disappearance April 17.

"It is alleged (name redacted) eloped from his home," the allegation description reads. "Local law enforcement initiated a city-wide search and (redacted) has not presently been found."

DeBrodie's body was found April 24, encased in concrete in a storage unit and severely decomposed, Fulton Police Chief Steve Myers said. Autopsy results are not yet available, and no arrests have been made.

On the day DeBrodie's disappearance was reported to law enforcement officials, management of the individualized supported living (ISL) home on Claymine Drive passed from Second Chance to Finck & Associates.

Since then, DMH has initiated at least three new inquiries based on allegations made by clients in April. Two involve clients allegedly being left without supervision, while the third involves possible assault.

"It is alleged that (name redacted) did not have staff to care for him and when asked what he did when there was no staff, he replied, 'Just hang out or stay in my room. Sometimes they would say, 'Lock yourself in your room and don't come out until someone gets home,'" the description on one inquiry reads.

The inquiry notification was sent April 21, and the incident date was recorded as April 18.

In a second inquiry, sent the same day with incident date April 19, another client made similar claims.

"It is alleged that (name redacted) stated in an interview, 'While Second Chance Home was in charge of his home he would stay home alone because he did not have any staff,'" the email states.

The investigation due date is given as May 5, but the DMH has not yet responded to a request for the results.

The third investigation involves a client's claim a staff member choked him while he lived at an ISL on Hockaday Avenue operated by Second Chance. (DeBrodie lived in the Claymine Drive ISL, where this client eventually moved.)

"(Name redacted) stated a staff member had choked him on two occasions," the description states.

The due date for this investigation is June 21.

"I'm aware of (the investigations)," said Rachel Rowden, administrator of Second Chance Homes. "I can't answer any questions yet."

This isn't the first time Second Chance Homes has been under investigation, though previous inquiries haven't found sufficient evidence to substantiate the claims, according to other released documents. The documents didn't contain details of the allegations, only their results and instructions for Rowden.

One inquiry, completed in August 2012, involved an accusation of physical abuse at a Second Chance-run home.

"After thoroughly reviewing the inquiry report, I have found insufficient evidence to substantiate any abuse or negect," wrote the email's author, identified as the "regional office director," to Rowden.

Rowden was instructed to tell "Sherry Paulo, QDDP" (qualified developmental disabilities professional) to check for bruising and document any bruises in the daily notes, and add padding to a client's wheelchair seatbelt.

Another inquiry was completed in December 2013, and the most recent apparently wrapped up in June. Rowden's individualized support plan team was told to discuss a "safety plan with habilitative objectives" for a client.

The oldest reported investigation dates to 2007, when a medical aide was accused of threatening to "beat the (expletive)" out of a client if he had taken his cigarettes, according to a DMH Investigations Unit investigative report.