ORLANDO, Fla. -- The embattled professional guardian who is accused of causing the death of a man who was under her care by issuing a do-not-resuscitate order without permission has resigned from her profession in the state of Florida.
Professional guardian Rebecca Fierle's letter of resignation was sent out on the same day she became the center of a criminal investigation opened by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
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ABC Action News obtained a copy of the letter of resignation written by Fierle.
"I have instructed all of the attorneys with whom I work to file resignations as guardian on my behalf in my cases," the letter said in part.
Fierle also said in her letter of resignation that she will not seek future appointments as a guardian.
Earlier this month, a state investigation recommended criminal charges against Fierle for withholding medical care from Steven Stryker.
That investigation found Fierle capped off Stryker's feeding tube and signed off a DNR order without permission. Stryker died days after docters there told her to rescind that order.
Florida Department of Elder Affairs Secretary Richard Prudom released the following statement after Fierle resigned from being a professional guardian in the Sunshine State:
"Rebecca Fierle failed nearly 100 families who entrusted their loved ones to her care. We will continue to work with law enforcement and the courts to hold bad actors who violate the trust of our most vulnerable citizens and their families accountable.
The mission of the Guardianship program is to ensure that the most vulnerable members of our elderly and disabled community receive the proper care and support they so rightly deserve. This is a priority for Governor DeSantis, and it is my priority as well.
To ensure that this occurs, I have made immediate administrative changes to improve our response time and thoroughly and expeditiously review complaints we have received. If complaints are received that demonstrate legally sufficient evidence of abuse, neglect or malfeasance, we refer those complaints to the appropriate authorities.
The Governor and I will pursue legislative changes to grant the Department of Elder Affairs the necessary oversight authority to guarantee our ability to ensure that neglect and abuse to the frailest of the frail never occurs again.
Something needs to be—and will be—done."
ABC Action News I-Team reporter Adam Walser contributed to this story.
