PHOENIX — The tragic death of 9‑year‑old Jakob Blodgett while in the care of Sunshine Residential Homes has become a flashpoint in Arizona politics. Blodgett, who suffered from Type 1 diabetes, missed two doses of his long‑acting insulin and was later hospitalized with brain swelling. He died in 2022 from complications of the disease.
Allegations of pay‑to‑play
Sunshine Residential Homes, the state’s largest group‑home provider, has faced scrutiny after records showed the company made substantial political contributions to Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs. The donations included $100,000 to Hobbs’ inaugural fund in December 2022 and $150,000 to a legal‑defense fund for the governor between November 2023 and May 2024.
Months after those contributions, the Arizona Department of Child Safety approved a 30 percent rate increase for Sunshine’s beds, citing the provider’s “outsized leverage” in the state’s congregate‑care system. Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs has seized on the timing, making the issue a centerpiece of his campaign to unseat Hobbs.
Investigations and findings
Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, launched an investigation but concluded there was no evidence of bribery. The AG’s office determined the rate hike resulted from Sunshine’s market position, not a quid‑pro‑quo arrangement. Nonetheless, the state auditor general’s office and Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, a Republican, are conducting separate inquiries.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office has also interviewed Sunshine employees as part of a criminal investigation into Blodgett’s death, though no charges have been filed.
Failure to provide proper medical care
According to court records, a licensing violation was issued against Sunshine two weeks before the rate increase, but the agency did not fine, suspend, or revoke the provider’s license. The violation related to the failure to administer insulin as prescribed. Lawyer Robert Pastor, representing the Blodgett family, argues that Sunshine’s leverage over the state allowed it to avoid accountability.
Text messages obtained by the Associated Press reveal staff concerns about Blodgett’s blood‑glucose levels. When an employee reported an elevated reading, the house manager instructed staff to give the child water rather than insulin, delaying critical treatment.
Broader concerns about child‑care oversight
The case highlights systemic issues in Arizona’s child‑welfare system. Department of Child Safety official Myriam Villarreal testified that staff at the group home were not adequately trained to recognize signs of ketoacidosis, a life‑threatening complication of untreated diabetes.
Villarreal also noted that the state had asked Sunshine to modify its policies after the incident, but training was limited to the house manager rather than all caregivers.
Political implications
Governor Hobbs maintains she was not involved in the rate‑increase decision, stating that the department acted in the best interest of children in care. Republicans, however, argue that the timing of the contributions and the subsequent increase constitute a classic pay‑to‑play scheme.
While the AG’s office found no criminal conduct, the ongoing investigations and the wrongful‑death lawsuit keep the issue in the public eye, raising questions about how much influence large providers should wield over state funding decisions.
Other incidents
Blodgett is not the only child with diabetes to die while in an Arizona group home. In July 2024, a 15‑year‑old in a Mesa facility died of diabetic ketoacidosis after staff reported the teen refused insulin. The pattern underscores the need for better medical oversight and staff training across the state’s congregate‑care network.
As the debate continues, Arizona families, faith‑based groups, and child‑advocacy organizations are calling for stricter licensing standards, transparent rate‑setting processes, and comprehensive medical training for all group‑home staff.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
