Woman describes public guardianship experience
By Matt Flener
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BELTON, Missouri (KMBC) — A Missouri woman is sharing her experience in the state’s public guardianship system, calling for changes and more awareness about court-ordered guardianships.
“It’s wrong, and kind of crooked,” Rachel Thompson said. “The system.”
Thompson emailed KMBC 9 Investigates after seeing KMBC’s “Paper Prisons” investigation, uncovering the difficulties of wards of the state and their families under Missouri’s system of public guardianship.
Thompson was one of more than 11,000 people in Missouri under public guardianship.
Thompson eventually shared her experience with the U.S. Department of Justice. Her story was included in a 2024 DOJ report under the Biden administration, which found that Missourians with mental health disabilities are “unnecessarily institutionalized” in nursing facilities and under guardianships.
The report also said that Missouri violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by failing to place people in the least restrictive environment.
Thompson, referred to as “Ciara” in the report, said while living in one nursing home, she was not allowed to travel to activities in another building.
“I was really depressed,” she said. “I was crying. I was having panic attacks.”
Thompson said she spent 10 years under guardianship before she was able to get out. A judge had appointed a public guardian to oversee her care while she was dealing with PTSD following a domestic violence situation.
“I tried to stand up for myself that I didn’t need a guardian, but I lost,” Thompson said.
Thompson’s court-appointed guardian was the Perry County, Missouri, public administrator, who has since retired. KMBC reached out to the current public administrator, who declined to comment on Thompson’s time as a ward of the state, referring KMBC back to court documents.
Thompson said her guardian had control over her life for a decade, making decisions that affected her relationships with her family.
“And 10 years gone from my life. For my mom, my kids, my dad who passed away recently. I would have had three more years with him,” Thompson said, wiping away tears.
Thompson’s mother, Theresa Maze, initially thought public guardianship would help her daughter, who lived in another part of the state.
“And so, I thought, okay, well they’re just going to help her. They’re right there, she can stay right there with her kids,” she said.
Looking back, she said she regrets allowing it to happen.
“I don’t like to think about it that much,” she said. “It rips out your heart.”
Thompson is calling for oversight of Missouri’s public guardians, who are elected to their positions. She said it is difficult to hold them accountable unless people share their stories and experiences.
“What needs to change?” KMBC asked Thompson.
“Well, you guys are doing great at some sort of start,” Thompson said.
Since KMBC’s investigation began, 34 people have reached out for help with their public guardianship cases.
If you know of someone going through struggles with Missouri’s public guardianship system, or if you have a case to highlight that exposes solutions for Missouri’s public guardianship system that could teach lessons to others, please email investigates@kmbc.com.
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