The Definitive Dossier of Loretta Rouse, Public Administrator for Pulaski County, Missouri
Here is the first in a series of stories examining the guardianship system in Pulaski County, Missouri.
Loretta Rouse is the Public Administrator for Pulaski County, Missouri.
That is an elected position; in Missouri, the public elects someone in each county to handle guardianship and probate matters on behalf of the citizens.
On the Pulaski County, Missouri website, Rouse states.
I am a native of Pulaski County and have lived in this county my whole life. I was elected as the Public Administrator and began my duties on January 1, 2001.
The courts appoint the Public Administrator to serve as the Legal Guardian and/or Conservator for citizens who need assistance making decisions. As the Legal Guardian and/or Conservator the Public Administrator has to account for each individual client's monies and property, as well as making decisions on medical treatment and placing individuals in living arrangements. I work with each client's team, which can include family members, Health Care workers, Social Service workers and staff at the facilities where some of the clients live, to make informed decisions that will be in the best interest of the client.
I have found this position to be rewarding and tough at times, but I truly enjoy my job and serving the citizens of Pulaski County. Thank you for electing me as the Public Administrator.
An examination of several of Rouse’s cases has found she often engages in dubious behavior, favoring her friends and family, while cutting corners.
Annette Bartlett
Sandra Bivins told me that she has been the co-trustee of her friend Annette Bartlett for over a decade. She said that Annette pays for her rent and utilities through social security, but in her role as co-trustee, Sandra goes with Annette to buy clothes, food, and other items which are paid out of the trust.
Sandra said she is responsible for making sure the trust funds are not misspent.
On May 17, 2023, the guardianship of Charles Tirrell, Annette’s brother, was terminated because he died.
Sandra told me that Annette had told her that Rouse visited Annette on May 25, 2023, informing Annette that she would be receiving his trust money.
This, Sandra told me, was improper since Rouse’s involvement with his trust ended on May 17, as the court document above states.
On August 23, 2023, an attorney named Ralph Muxlow contacted Sandra and explained that her services would no longer be necessary. Loretta would be taking over.
I reached out to Mr. Muxlow by email, but he did not respond. Sandra said that last Friday was the final day to comply with the request. She has not heard from Muxlow yet.
Chad Muxlow
Ralph’s son, Chad, is currently in guardianship. An audio of the proceeding to put him into guardianship is curious.
Rouse not only filed the petition, but she was the only witness called, acting as an expert.
Even more curious, this hearing occurred in May 2023. During this period, Chad Muxlow faced several pending criminal charges.
I reached out to the office of Kevin Hillman, the Prosecuting Attorney for Pulaski County, Missouri, which is handling the case. The office did not respond to an email for comment. In my email, I asked if Mr. Muxlow would be considered incompetent to stand trial, given he’s in guardianship.
Shirley Butler
Shirley’s son, Greg Lee, told me that an attorney recommended guardianship for his mom, so Rouse did not act as the petitioner in his case.
She did act as an expert, a dubious expertise. Here is part of a lawsuit Greg filed.
Absent the Judgment of incapacity and disability on November 25, 2019 being valid, Loretta Rouse does not have standing to pursue any claims, nor can any of the claims asserted against her result in a valid judgment, each such claim requiring Loretta Rouse to actually be the lawful guardian and conservator of Shirley Butler. She isn't.
Greg said Rouse sold his mother’s house, under value.
Ralph Muxlow represented Rouse for part of this case, Greg told me.
Finally, in power, Rouse has blocked Greg from seeing his mom for over two years.
Greg said despite being blocked for over two years, the court has failed to set a hearing so he can see his mom.
Greg was recently featured in The St. Louis Record, where he was interviewed about Rouse.
“Paula got very lucky because that's an anomaly,” said Greg Lee, who was not a party to the case. “My mom was placed in a nursing home with a durable power of attorney that was not valid. We went under guardianship to avoid filing a civil suit against my sister and we’re still fighting to get my mother out of there.”
…
“There needs to be more oversight on the guardianship process,” Lee said in an interview. “I tried to get my mom out of the nursing home, but they detained her, separated us and then told me to leave the facility.”
Lee, who has been working with the Center for Estate Administration Reform (CEAR) on legislation that would change how senior citizens are determined to be incapacitated, has not been permitted by his mother’s guardian to visit since May.
Lee's mother's guardian is Loretta Rouse who is the public administrator for Pulaski County.
"Loretta is an elected official," Lee added. "She was voted in by the people. She is not a private individual acting as a guardian. The courts are helping her do this. Loretta has been in office for more than 20 years. In the majority of her guardianship cases, she is the petitioner. She is the witness and she is the court appointed guardian and conservator. She is also the executor of the estate. Loretta Rouse does it all."
Margarete Webster
In 2016, Rouse filed a petition and then appeared as the sole expert witness to place Margarete Webster into guardianship. While the audio is difficult to hear, Rouse made it clear that this is what Margerete wanted.
Webster had a court appointed attorney, John Farris, who also insisted that guardianship was what Margerete wanted, but Margerete did not attend the hearing.
Rouse claimed the guardianship was necessary to protect Margarete’s home.
“Respondent is in need of conservatorship because respondent cannot manage her finances. Respondent property in Dixon is in danger of exploitation,” the filing above states.
In the hearing, Rouse said that the property had plenty of equity. So, it should have been quite surprising the months later, Rouse abandoned her property.
Ralph Muxlow represented Rouse in this case as well.
Margarete Webster died on October 23, 2017.
I reached out to John Farris. He told me to send him an email, which he didn’t respond to.
He also said he was unlikely to respond, since Margarete is dead.
Christine Reser
In 2015, Rouse filed a petition to place Christine Reser into guardianship.
Once in guardianship, Rouse proceeded to sell of Reser’s property.
Rouse sold this property to her father, Tedy Williams.
Here is part of Mr. Williams obituary, where Rouse is listed as his daughter.
This is the first in a series on the Pulaski County, Missouri guardianship system. Please check out the fundraiser for this campaign and help me provide maximum exposure.
