Arizona Group Home Provider Avoids Penalties in Boy's Diabetes Death
Arizona's largest group home provider escaped penalties after a diabetic boy's death, sparking a pay-to-play scandal and investigations.
An Arizona group home provider at the center of a political scandal has escaped penalties in the death of a 9-year-old diabetic boy, raising questions about oversight and accountability in the state's congregate-care system.
Jakob Blodgett died in 2022 from complications of Type 1 diabetes after staff at a Sunshine Residential Homes facility missed two doses of his long-acting insulin. Despite a licensing violation issued by the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS), the company was not fined or sanctioned.
Records show Sunshine made $550,000 in political contributions, including $100,000 to Governor Katie Hobbs' inaugural fund and $150,000 to her legal defense fund. Months later, the state approved a 30% rate increase for the company, which had threatened to reduce bed capacity if it didn't get more funding.
Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes found no evidence of bribery, attributing the rate hike to Sunshine's "outsized leverage" as the state's largest group home provider. Republican legislators and the state auditor general are continuing separate investigations.
Governor Hobbs denies involvement in the rate decision, saying it was handled by the department. Her Republican challenger, U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, has made the scandal a campaign issue.
In the boy's case, staff said Jakob refused insulin and had been sneaking candy. Text messages show a supervisor advised giving him water when his blood glucose was elevated. The house manager, the only one trained in diabetes care, was not present when doses were missed.
A DCS official testified that workers weren't trained to recognize signs of ketoacidosis, a serious complication from lack of insulin. The family's attorney disputes claims the boy refused medication, arguing Sunshine's leverage over the state means "when they kill a child, there will be no consequences."
Sunshine spokesperson Tommy McKone said the company followed all policies and procedures under state law. The wrongful death lawsuit remains active, and a criminal investigation by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office is ongoing.
Jakob's case is not isolated; another diabetic teenager died in 2024 at a different group home after refusing insulin, according to records.