The biological mother of a Fulton man whose body was found in a concrete-encased container filed a wrongful death lawsuit Jan. 23 against a group home and several agencies and individuals representing Callaway County and the state of Missouri.
Carl DeBrodie, 31, was initially reported missing April 17. The developmentally disabled man lived at a supported living facility managed by Second Chance Homes of Fulton.
On April 24, police found his decomposed body wrapped in plastic and encased in concrete. It was inside a trash container and a wooden crate in a storage unit in Fulton. Fulton Police Chief Steve Myers confirmed at the time that the body was severely decomposed, meaning DeBrodie may have been deceased for months.
According to a report from television station KRCG, the lawsuit by Carolyn Summers, DeBrodie's mother, alleges eight counts: wrongful death, three civil rights violations, two civil conspiracies, negligence and right of sepulcher. Summers is seeking a judgment in excess of $25,000 in allowable and punitive damages, as well as court costs.
The lawsuit names Second Chance Homes, Rachel Rowden, Sherry Paulo, as well as Callaway County, the Callaway County Public Administrator's office and Director Karen Digh, Callaway County Special Services and Executive Director Julia Kaufmann. The lawsuit also names the state of Missouri, the Missouri Department of Mental Health, its Director Mark Stringer, as well as the department's Division of Disabilities and its Director Valerie Huhn, the Division of Disabilities, Community Operations and its Director Wendy Witcig, the department's Division of Disabilities, Central Region and its Assistant Director Marcy Volner, the Division of Disabilities' Central Missouri Regional Office and its Director Wendy Davis. Also named in the suit are John Doe 1, John Doe 2, John Doe 3 and John Doe 4.
No arrests in Carl DeBrodie case
According to Lt. Bill Ladwig, no arrests have yet been made in the case of Carl DeBrodie's death.
Evidence was turned over last year to the Callaway County Prosecuting Attorney's office and the U.S. Attorney's Office, Callaway County Prosecuting Attorney Christopher Wilson said. Details of DeBrodie's autopsy results have not yet been made public.