10: The Lawmakers

Summary

The Unforgotten - Season 2: Unnatural Causes
Episode 10: The Lawmakers
Release Date: April 15, 2025

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Introduction

In Episode 10 of The Unforgotten, titled "The Lawmakers," host Charlie Scudder delves into the ongoing legislative battle to enhance security measures in senior living communities in Texas. This episode provides a comprehensive look at the efforts of activists Shannon Dionne and Lauren Smith, both intimately affected by the tragic murders committed by serial killer Billy Shamirmere. As they testify before the Texas Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, the episode unpacks the challenges and progress in passing Senate Bill 1283 (SB 1283), aimed at preventing future tragedies.

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Updates Since Season Two

Charlie Scudder begins by updating listeners on significant developments since the end of Season 2. Notably, the civil lawsuits against Tradition Prestonwood, a senior living community implicated in the Shamirmere case, have been settled out of court. Attorney Trey Crawford, featured in Episode 3, describes the settlement, which included undisclosed payouts and a non-disclosure agreement preventing families from discussing the case further.

[06:07] Lauren Smith: "We're paying a premium price to have our mothers protected there. And he was in there all the time and they did nothing."

Despite the settlement, Charlie emphasizes that the broader systemic issues remain unresolved, highlighting that the legal battles have ended without holding the community accountable.

Additionally, a startling development surfaced involving Fort Worth Congresswoman Kay Granger, who was found to be residing in a Tradition Clear Fork senior living community despite experiencing dementia. This revelation raises questions about the oversight and transparency of such facilities.

[08:41] Shannon Dionne: "She missed most of her votes in Washington throughout the summer and fall."

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Legislative Hearing on SB 1283

The core of the episode focuses on the Senate Committee hearing for SB 1283, spearheaded by Republican Senator Tan Parker. This bill seeks to implement comprehensive security improvements in senior living communities, addressing the loopholes that previously allowed Shamirmere to commit his crimes with impunity.

Bill Overview

Senator Tan Parker outlines the bill’s intent:

[25:19] Tan Parker: "Senate Bill 1283 enhances the safety and security of residents living in senior retirement communities by establishing clear guidelines for preventing and responding to criminal activity."

However, discrepancies arise as Charlie points out inaccuracies in Parker’s account, such as the mischaracterization of Shamirmere’s employment status.

Testimonies and Stakeholder Perspectives

Shannon Dionne and Lauren Smith, both deeply affected by Shamirmere's actions, provide poignant testimonies supporting SB 1283. Lauren details the horrors her mother endured, emphasizing the necessity of the bill’s measures.

[31:11] Shannon Dionne: "If my mother and so many others knew that there had been a criminal trespasser, they would never have opened their door."

Cheryl Pangburn, representing AARP Texas, endorses the bill, highlighting its significance in safeguarding older adults.

[29:41] Cheryl Pangburn: "Older adults deserve to live in safe, welcoming environments free from crime and disruption."

Conversely, Carmen Tilton from the Texas Assisted Living Association (TALA) unexpectedly supports the committee substitute for SB 1283, citing a balanced approach between safety and independence.

[34:03] Carmen Tilton: "TALA appreciates that this bill directs senior living communities to have a proactive communications policy with their residents, but that it doesn't push into unnecessary scaremongering."

Challenges in Passing the Bill

The episode highlights the ideological battle between advocates like SOSS and conservative groups such as the Texas Conservative Coalition (TCC) that oppose increased regulations. TCC's influence often leads to the rejection of bills perceived as overly restrictive or non-conservative.

[17:29] Carmen Tilton: "The bill was viewed as not conservative enough for Texas, and thus, it never made it out of committee."

Despite these hurdles, SB 1283 made progress by being referred to the Senate committee, a significant step forward from previous legislative sessions where the bill was often sidelined without consideration.

Personal Struggles and Persistence

The emotional toll on activists Shannon and Lauren is palpable as they recount their experiences testifying. Their resilience underscores the personal commitment driving the legislative push.

[32:45] Shannon Dionne: "Envision your mom opening the door and instantly realizing that her life was in grave danger."

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Current Status and Future Prospects

As the hearing concludes, SB 1283 remains pending in the Senate committee. Charlie reflects on the arduous path ahead, acknowledging that while progress has been made, significant obstacles persist. The episode underscores the importance of continued advocacy and public support to eventually see the bill enacted into law.

[36:19] Charlie Scudder: "Senate Bill 1283 will be left pending at this time. That's what happens to most bills when they're first considered in committee hearings. It could die there or be referred to the full Senate for a vote."

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Conclusion

Episode 10, "The Lawmakers," provides a thorough exploration of the legislative efforts to enhance security in Texas senior living communities. Through detailed testimonies, expert insights, and a candid look at the political landscape, Charlie Scudder effectively conveys the complexities and emotional weight of this ongoing battle. For those seeking a deeper understanding of the systemic issues that allowed Billy Shamirmere's crimes to go unchecked, this episode serves as an essential resource.

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Notable Quotes:

• Shannon Dionne [02:28]: "You could have knocked me over. There's an old term, gobsmacked. I don't have a word to describe when I think about what my mother's last moments. I have nightmares of that."

• Cheryl Pangburn [06:00]: "It'S one. Probably in the history of the US."

• Shannon Dionne [31:11]: "If my mother and so many others knew that there had been a criminal trespasser, they would never have opened their door."

• Carmen Tilton [34:03]: "We support resident independence. We maintain privacy. We try to keep people safe."

• Charlie Scudder [36:19]: "Senate Bill 1283 will be left pending at this time."

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For more information on the legislative efforts and to support Secure Our Seniors Safety (SOSS), visit secureourseniorssafety.org.

Transcript

[Charlie Scudder]

The missing child is Lucia Blix, 9 years old.

[Shannon Dionne]

Please let her come back home safely.

[Charlie Scudder]

April 16 the kidnappers plundered meticulously.

[Shannon Dionne]

If money is what it takes to get her back, we're gonna pay it. The secrets they hide. You can't talk about this. You can't write about it. Are the clues. The mother's hiding something. I know it.

[Charlie Scudder]

To find her, tell me where she is.

[Shannon Dionne]

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[Charlie Scudder]

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[Shannon Dionne]

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[Shannon Dionne]

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[Charlie Scudder]

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[Shannon Dionne]

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[Charlie Scudder]

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[Shannon Dionne]

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[Lauren Smith]

The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services will come to order. The clerk will please call the roll.

[Charlie Scudder]

It's a Wednesday morning in Austin, Texas. Legislators and their staffers mingle on the floor of the Texas Senate Chamber. Lobbyists and members of the public find seats along the wall.

[Lauren Smith]

Thank you for reconvening this morning. Those wishing to testify are to remain either along the rail or if you're in the gallery. When your name is called, please make sure that you are speaking into the microphone as I am doing, as it is very difficult to hear in this beautiful but cavernous chamber, the Texas Senate.

[Charlie Scudder]

Committee on Health and Human Services has a full schedule. The lawmakers here are set to consider bills that deal with immunization requirements, health insurance, pre authorizations, accessibility to psychiatric care, and more. In the room are two of the women you heard from in season two of this podcast, Shannon Dionne and Lauren Smith. Shannon is the woman you heard from throughout the series, the daughter of Doris Gleason, who filed a records request and found a pattern of deaths and thefts at the Tradition Prestonwood.

[Shannon Dionne]

You could have knocked me over. There's an old term, gobsmacked. I don't have a word to describe when I think about what my mother's last moments. I have nightmares of that.

[Charlie Scudder]

You met Lauren in the finale of season two. Her mother, Phyllis Payne, was killed at Edgemere in 2016.

[Shannon Dionne]

I just. You know what I do sometimes? I just get in the car so I can let out a scream and not scare the dog and just yell. Just get it out. It's like, how could you have done this to her, you know, and to all these people for a little bit of jewelry or, you know, just, just sick.

[Charlie Scudder]

Shannon and Lauren came to Austin to the Senate chamber to testify at this hearing in support of Senate Bill 1283. The bill was introduced by two Republicans from North Texas in the months after our podcast aired. If it passes, it will be the most comprehensive improvement to security at senior living communities since Billy Shamirmere killed at least two dozen older adults in and around Dallas. But Shannon and Lauren have been here before, and they know they have a long way before their bill becomes law. I'm Charlie Scudder, and this is a special bonus episode of The Unforgotten Season 2. Since the last time you heard from me back in December, there have been a few updates to the case. I'm also going to fill you in on this renewed push in Austin to close some of the loopholes that allowed Billy Shamirmir to become the most prolific serial killer in Dallas history. Oh, and I have some new information that I can finally bring on the record, which shows just how hard the senior living communities you've already heard about worked to keep information about the killing spree secret from residents and police. This is the unforgotten unnatural causes Chapter 10 the lawmakers I was supposed to be at that hearing too. While we were putting together Season two, Shannon told me that Secure Our Seniors Safety, or soss, would be pushing for new laws during the current legislative session. That's the political nonprofit founded by the families of Billy Shamirmir's victims. Remember, he's the former in Home Caregiver who smothered dozens of older adults with a pillow before stealing jewelry and cash from their luxury apartments and private homes. If the SOSs bills were scheduled for a hearing, I planned on being there to report this bonus episode, but I'm excited to say that life got in the way. I'm recording this voiceover from my home studio, AKA my bedroom closet, because I'm technically on paternity leave right now. My wife and I just had a new baby a few weeks ago, so traveling to Austin for a few days wasn't in the cards. You'll hear more from the livestream of the hearing on SB 1283 in a few minutes. But first, there's a few updates since our last episode aired that I want to share with y'all. First, an update from the civil lawsuits against the Tradition. Preston, you may remember from our third episode, many of the families of Shamir's victims had sued the communities where their mothers lived and died. A batch of those suits filed by attorney Trey Crawford were still being litigated when we started publishing the podcast, more than five years after they were first filed in Dallas County. Here's Trey, who you heard from in episode three. The number of police reports that we were getting back at a single location.

[Cheryl Pangburn]

That'S supposed to be kind of the.

[Charlie Scudder]

Ritz Carlton of independent living facilities was a little bit shocking. From what we know now.

[Cheryl Pangburn]

It'S one.

[Charlie Scudder]

Of the most prolific serial killers probably in the history of the US Here's Mary Jo Jennings, one of his clients.

[Lauren Smith]

We're paying premium price to have our mothers protected there. And he was in there all the time and they did nothing. And then to have nine murders when it comes out that Shamir Mir is.

[Charlie Scudder]

Arrested and they all knew he was.

[Lauren Smith]

All over the building, what did they do?

[Charlie Scudder]

Nothing.

[Lauren Smith]

Nothing.

[Charlie Scudder]

As we were wrapping up production on season two, we got word that those suits had been settled out of court. The settlement included an undisclosed payout from Tradition Senior Living for Crawford's clients and a clause that bars those families from talking about the case. That means that both the civil and criminal legal battles around the Shamimir case are over. No more investigations, no more trials. Like we discussed in season two. It's not an individual criminal that's to blame for the string of murders and thefts, but a system that ignored and dismissed the signs of the crimes over and over. Now that these legal challenges are settled, it is likely that no one else will be held accountable. The other news update since we recorded the final episode broke just before Christmas, and you may have even heard about this one.

[Shannon Dionne]

Straight ahead. Missed votes Retiring Fort Worth Congresswoman Kay Granger acknowledges she's had health issues after.

[Charlie Scudder]

A report found she hasn't voted on.

[Shannon Dionne]

Bills since late July.

[Charlie Scudder]

Why the Kay Granger was elected to the U.S. house of Representatives in 1996 and has been a fixture in North Texas politics for more than 30 years. Growing up in Tarrant County, I remember her visiting my elementary school classroom once. Earlier in 2024, Granger announced that she would not seek another term, and she also stopped showing up for work. She missed most of her votes in Washington throughout the summer and fall. It wasn't until a conservative pink slime news website called the Dallas Express started asking questions about her voting record that news broke that she was living in a Fort Worth senior living community with memory care. Her son told the Dallas Morning News that Granger had been experiencing some dementia issues. In a season full of raucous politics, especially about the age of our elected politicians. This story was a fairly minor blip, but it did raise a lot of questions about how a sitting U.S. house representative could basically dispute disappear into Memory Care without anyone noticing. The North Texas press corps, once with a robust presence in D.C. completely missed it too. When the story did come out, I noticed something else in the news reports. Granger is living at the Tradition Clear Fork, the Fort Worth property owned by the same company as the Tradition Prestonwood. The Tradition Clearfork offers independent living and memory care services just like the Tradition Prestonwood. Both are advertised as high end luxury communities with top of the line security. You may remember that the Tradition Prestonwood was sold in 2023 to an out of state firm, but both communities are still operated by Tradition Senior Living, which is owned by Jonathan Perlman. He's the former MLB pitcher you heard from in this 2011 marketing video. When people first come, if it's their.

[Andrea Earle]

First time out, to look at a.

[Charlie Scudder]

Product like the Tradition, there is a little bit of sticker shock until they peel back and really understand the services and the amenities that we provide. I know of no evidence that suggests Shamir Mir ever worked in Tarrant county, where the Clear Fork community is located. In fact, the Tradition Prestonwood is the only Tradition property with publicly identified cases. So why am I talking about Kay Granger on this podcast? Because based on what her family told the Dallas Morning News, they were looking for somewhere that she could be safe but still active, her son said there's nothing wrong with someone wanting to live in a community with other folks their age. She's in a building with a lot of other folks her age that are super active that she really loves. It's wonderful, granger's son told the newspaper. For her, at this point in life, that's a wish that millions of Americans have for their loved ones every day. The Tradition says it continues to offer that level of care for all its residents, like the former congresswoman. But as you heard in season two, even at those kinds of luxury communities, property owners can cut corners to maximize corporate profits at a detriment to residents. This isn't about Billy Shamir, it's not about Kay Granger, and it's not about Tradition Senior Living either. It's about all our older loved ones, what we expect for them, and the level of care they're actually receiving. Which is why Shannon Dion and Lauren Smith have been going to Austin for the past five years to try and convince legislators to do something to force property owners to do more we'll get back to their hearing after a quick break.

[Carmen Tilton]

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[Charlie Scudder]

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[Shannon Dionne]

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[Charlie Scudder]

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[Shannon Dionne]

See for [e-mail].

[Charlie Scudder]

You may remember that in season two we established several reasons, several loopholes that allowed Shamirmir to get away with his crimes for so long. He used his knowledge of the senior care industry to target independent communities where security is looser. He got a job at a home health care company despite his criminal record and used it to identify more victims. He then sold his stolen goods at cash for gold dealers and online sales apps, avoiding regulatory oversight of his illegal transactions. We also talked about the ways the families of Shamir's victims were working to close some of those loopholes and the obstacles they faced along the way. To recap, in 2019, a group of the families of the victims formed a political nonprofit called Secure Our Seniors Safety, or soss. You may also remember hearing testimony from Shannon Dion and Cheryl Pangburn, the woman who found out about her mother's murder, on Facebook. Message along with Texas House Representative Jared Patterson.

[Andrea Earle]

I'm not expecting you to answer this first question, by the way, but how many of you knew that an alleged serial killer recently operated for years in Dallas and Collin counties targeting elderly residents?

[Charlie Scudder]

Here's Cheryl at that hearing.

[Carmen Tilton]

My name is Cheryl Pangburn. I'm representing myself today, and I'm here in support of House Bill 723. I'm here today because I'm the one that Jared was referring to. Excuse me. To learn about my mother's death on Facebook.

[Charlie Scudder]

And here's Shannon's SOS.

[Shannon Dionne]

Primary focus is this cannot happen to another Texas family. No family should ever find out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any other social media their loved one was murdered.

[Charlie Scudder]

During that legislative session in 2021, Soss pushed for four bills. One was a comprehensive security program for senior living communities. One would change how next of kin are notified for changes to a death certificate amendment. One would close some loopholes in how Cash for Gold regulations are enforced. And the fourth bill would eliminate forced arbitration clauses in senior living rental contracts like the ones at the Tradition Prestonwood, which were part of why those civil cases dragged on for so long. In that first legislative session, only the bills about the death certificates and the Cash for Gold enforcement passed and became law. But the meat of the legislation the group pushed for, the improvements to senior living security were seen as too onerous for business owners to implement.

[Carmen Tilton]

You know, living next door to a state representative, every time that we would go to Austin, I would go next door and debrief with Jared. And I just learned so much each time that I went that was more helpful as to the battle that we're up against legislatively.

[Charlie Scudder]

That's Cheryl Pangburn. You heard part of this interview in episode six. But she had a lot more to say. Part of why she was able to gain some traction in the legislature is because Patterson, a conservative Republican in the Texas house, was her next door neighbor.

[Carmen Tilton]

I think one of the problems that exists with independent living is that from a legislative perspective, independent living is considered a business. Like we families look at it as a home for your parents, where you want them to be happy and safe and live a good quality life. When you go down and try to pass legislation, it's considered a business. And as such, the mindset is that it's up to the families to suss it out for themselves which place is more secure, has better amenities, and is a better fit for their loved one. We're not going to put a regulation on a business because it affects our conservative rating, whatever that point system is. So we'll just let the consumers work it out for themselves.

[Charlie Scudder]

There are a lot of groups that keep scorecards for state and national politicians like the one she's describing. Particularly in Texas where far right candidates have been very successful in targeting more moderate Republicans. Those scorecards can mean the difference between another term or a well funded primary challenger. The regulations suggested by soss, the ones that would require measures like background checks for employees and sign in for all visitors at senior communities, are, well, regulations. For some conservative groups, any regulation is a bad regulation. Cheryl mentioned one group in particular, the Texas Conservative Coalition, or TCC for short. It's a powerful caucus in the state legislature and recommends to Republican lawmakers which bills to support and which to vote against.

[Carmen Tilton]

That's one of the things that we're now more insightful to is what we're up against, the mindset that we're up against. There's a whole lot of bills and not as enough legislators to look at every single bill and know what's going on. So this TCC group looks at the business related bills and will make a recommendation to the committee where either for neutral or against this bill, the recommendation is based on the very first draft of the bill. So no matter what you do to go in and adapt, amend the bill to be, you know, more passable, they don't go back and review it again and then change their mind. So he could make it out of committee and go to the House floor and based on the recommendation of TCC be totally voted down.

[Charlie Scudder]

That's exactly what happened to a couple of soss's bills. Because they were viewed as not conservative enough for Texas, they never made it out of committee.

[Carmen Tilton]

So the fight is still going on, but we're just becoming more aware of what we're up against.

[Charlie Scudder]

Like I mentioned in season two, a lot of this comes down to ideology. Should senior living communities be considered real estate investments subject to the same free market forces as any other multifamily housing community? Or should we think of them as something more like places for long term care which require more oversight? To be clear, I don't have an easy answer for that question and I'm not trying to provide one. I think about my mama who you met in season two. She's still at the age in place community I told you about and recently we've had to add more comprehensive nursing support. She's at the stage of life where she needs that long term care. But my parents, they're not there yet. They've started talking about retirement and although I don't expect them to move into a retirement community anytime soon. I can't imagine they'd want or expect locked doors and 247 security. If they did, they might avoid communities with that much oversight. So where's the line? Here's Cheryl again.

[Carmen Tilton]

The problem that comes into play with that is, is that they can market that they have any security measures that they want, but there's nobody to hold them accountable that they are following through with what they are marketing. So if they say we've got 200 cameras, they may have, but if 195 of them aren't working, there's nobody to hold them accountable for them not working. So you think you're getting, you think you're buying into a property that's going to provide security for your loved ones, but the security gate is broken and the person that you go and report that to is the person that's allowing the security gate to stay broken. So you're in this loop and you when you're looking for independent living, it's usually the first step that a senior makes. Going from their own home into someplace, it's an emotional decision. You want them to be happy, they want to be happy. And so you'll prioritize movie theaters and hair salons and swimming pools and you just assume that they're going to follow through on the security that they promise. But they don't. And there's no one to hold them accountable.

[Charlie Scudder]

The Texas Legislature meets once every two years. So after those first bills failed, SOSS didn't get another chance to make their case until 2023. That session, after Shamir Mir was convicted twice of capital murder, SOSS offered a single bill to mandate security improvements at senior living communities. It had five measures that included check in badges for every visitor, mandatory background checks for employees, and language that would have required communities to alert all residents whenever a crime was committed on the property. That bill received widespread support from most of the folks you heard from in season two. Even Dallas County Prosecutor Glenn Fitzmartin drove to Austin to testify in support of the bill, saying that if those measures had been in place earlier, Shamirmere could have been caught much sooner. It passed the Texas House, but the committee assigned to review it in the Senate never scheduled the bill for a hearing. I've already mentioned the two main political lobbying groups that pushed against these measures in previous the Texas Assisted Living association, or tala, and Leading H Texas. Those groups said at the time that seniors didn't want to live in a community with so many regulations and that implementing them would be a hit to the bottom line of property owners. You might remember that I asked Shannon about that failure in episode six. Did it surprise you there was so much pushback from the senior industry?

[Shannon Dionne]

Not at all.

[Charlie Scudder]

Why not?

[Shannon Dionne]

It's a money making business. There is no regulation in senior independent living currently and they are very happy with the setup that they have right now.

[Charlie Scudder]

By the time the latest legislative session rolled around, by the time we were putting together the second season of this podcast, a lot had changed. Shamir Mir was dead. Many of the families who had fought for so long had moved. Some physically like Cheryl, who recently moved to Georgia to be closer to her own grandchildren. But they've also moved emotionally. Some told me it had become easier to spend a day not thinking about the murder. Others said it was just as fresh as ever and they still felt the need to push the industry to change. Shannon said it was also more difficult getting legislators to sponsor a bill from soss. This time the legislature has become even more conservative and other priorities have taken the attention of lawmakers. A few weeks into the 2025 session, SB 1283 was filed. Picture that old Schoolhouse Rock song. I'm just a bill. That sad little bill. Yes, it's only a bill. Sitting there on Capitol hill in the 1975 animated short, the bill is waiting for its chance to be heard and debated in committee before going to a vote for the full chamber. That's where this measure is now. Over a decade since Shmeremere's killing spree allegedly began. It's a long, long way from becoming a law. And today it is still just a bill. So if it does pass, what would that mean? What would change and what would stay the same? And what chance does it have of actually becoming law? This episode is brought to you by Pluto tv.

[Carmen Tilton]

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[Charlie Scudder]

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[Shannon Dionne]

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[Charlie Scudder]

Okay, I promised we'd get back to the Texas Senate committee hearing from the beginning of this episode, so here it goes. Tan Parker, a Republican from Dallas's northwestern suburbs, is the author of SB 1283. The committee chair, Laurie Kohlkhurst, called him to describe the bill. First, you'll hear a few people talk about the committee substitute. That's just a second draft of the bill that was edited after the initial bill was filed.

[Lauren Smith]

The chair lays out Senate Bill 1283 and recognizes its author, Senator Parker, to explain the bill.

[Andrea Earle]

Thank you, Madam Chair and members, great to be with you this morning to lay out the substitute for Senate Bill 1283. Between 2016 and 2018, at least two dozen senior women were murdered in Dallas area senior living facilities by serial killer Billy Shamir Mir. He was employed by several facilities as a maintenance worker, and he used his employment to access the rooms of the victims to murder them. This predator had a criminal history that would have precluded him from employment in these facilities. So he either used a fake ID to bypass minimal checks or was never checked in any way. Lack of sufficient background checks directly led to his ability to access and murder these individuals. Senate Bill 1283. The substitute enhances the safety and security of residents living in senior retirement communities by establishing clear guidelines for preventing and responding to criminal activity.

[Charlie Scudder]

Okay, so Parker's got a few mistakes here. First, as you heard in season two, there's at least one male victim we know of, Solomon Spring. So saying only women isn't correct. Also, Shamirmir was never employed by the communities where he found his victims. Instead, he worked as an independent contractor or for a home health company that gave him access to those communities. He was never a maintenance worker, but pretended to be one to get his victims to open their apartment doors. That's an important distinction, but the state senator does get the gist of the story right.

[Andrea Earle]

The Senate bill substitute for 1283 seeks to empower seniors, provide and promote greater accountability among retirement community operators, and ultimately reduce the risk of criminal activity within these communities. This is a horrific situation, as I described, that happened in Dallas. It's really beyond comprehension that it happened. And so many very nice, very high quality operating facilities to have this kind of thing occur. So it was just absolutely horrific. And so I think this is very timely and very appropriate.

[Charlie Scudder]

Parker explained that the bill would require three measures from senior living communities. First, all employees would need background checks. And if a third party was coming to the property, a plumber to fix the toilet, for example. The property managers would need to tell residents that that company does or doesn't provide background checks on its employees. Again, Shamir Mir was not an employee. So if the measure only requires background checks for employees of a senior living community, then that loophole will still exist. SB 1283's second measure would require property owners to tell residents within two business days if there was a crime or trespasser on the property. Again, in the Shamiria case, property owners did not alert residents when and what they knew about the theft's deaths. Finally, the bill would require property owners to give police access to residents when investigating a crime. This one's a big and it deals with some information I had gathered off the record before the podcast aired last year. That means I had agreed with the sources of that information at the time not to share it. Now, since it was mentioned in a public hearing on the floor of the Texas State Senate chamber, I can give you a few more details. Multiple detectives who investigated Shamamiri's crimes told me that when they went to communities with confirmed or suspected murders, property managers refused to let them enter common areas to speak to residents or review security camera footage. Without a warrant, cops couldn't enter the property, review the footage or question its residence. The detectives said. That slowed their investigation and is part of why we still don't know how many people Shamir Mir really killed. Again, this is a tough one. I can see why property owners would want to see a warrant before letting police search the property. If an officer came to my home wanting to take a look around, I'd be asking for the same thing. But again, there seems to be something different about a private residence and a community for long term care. I don't know where I land on it, honestly. After Parker described SB 1283 to the Senate committee, public witnesses were called to testify. The first was a lobbyist with AARP Texas.

[Cheryl Pangburn]

Good morning members of the committee. My name is Andrea Earle. I'm here with AARP Texas, representing our 2.5 million members. This bill underscores the need for protective measures in these communities. Older adults deserve to live in safe, welcoming environments free from crime and disruption. This moves towards preventing individuals with dangerous backgrounds from slipping through the cracks. This bill sets clear expectation that these communities must prioritize the resident safety and critically, it does not constrain law enforcement efforts. Instead, it encourages collaboration between communities and police officers, ensuring residents can report their concerns without fears of retaliation. AARP is grateful to see these provisions introduced. These senseless crimes have inflicted immeasurable pain on our communities Underscoring the urgent need for stronger protections, this is a promising, much needed start.

[Charlie Scudder]

Next, Lauren Smith spoke to the committee. Remember, Lauren's mom, Phyllis was killed at Edgemere in 2016. You'll hear her mention a packet When Shannon and Lauren traveled to the Texas State Capitol, they printed a packet of information for the committee members, including a written statement of support from the Collin County District Attorney and a link to this podcast. The front cover was a collage of all the faces of the victims that had been publicly identified. I can't really show you since this is an audio podcast, but it's a powerful image.

[Shannon Dionne]

On the morning of May 14, 2016, Billy Shamirmere knocked on my mother's door. He had stalked her, then murdered her and stole from her. My sweet, trusting mother never would have dreamed that a serial killer was roaming the halls as she trusted in the security that management had promised. Over the next two years, he continued to stalk, smother and steal from 24 known elderly victims. These precious lives would have been saved if SB 1283 was in place.

[Charlie Scudder]

Lauren was calm and direct. She walked through each of the bill's three measures and why it would have slowed or stopped Shamir Mir at the communities where he found his victims.

[Shannon Dionne]

If my mother and so many others knew that there had been a criminal trespasser, they would never have opened their door. This is a simple crime watch for residents. Included in your packet is evidence that a property knew of a trespasser and did not share the information with residents. Law enforcement should be allowed access to residents when conducting an investigation. Police were denied access to residents when investigating these homicides. Approving SB 1283 guarantees that seniors will have basic practices needed to ensure their safety from predators.

[Charlie Scudder]

For most of her testimony, Lauren kept her head down, reading from a script she kept in a red folder. At this point, she paused. I could see on the livestream that she took a deep breath and looked directly at the committee chair.

[Shannon Dionne]

Envision your mom opening the door and instantly realizing that her life was in grave danger. Thank you.

[Charlie Scudder]

Shannon was in the gallery listening when Lauren finished her testimony. The two women met just outside the Senate chamber. Lauren's husband took a photo of what happened next. The two women fell into each other's arms, sobbing quietly. Shannon said, this happens every time. Shannon, Lauren, Cheryl, Mary Jo Jennings, and other family members of Shamir's victims have all testified to the Texas Legislature over the years. It's been a deeply emotional experience for all of them. Shannon once described it to me as overwhelming. It's like they'd finally been given a voice after all these years. But the hearing wasn't over just yet. After a midday break, the committee heard from additional speakers on the bills. First, a Dallas police lieutenant who was not involved in the investigation into Schmearmer's crimes gave a brief statement in support of the bill on behalf of the department. Then, Carmen Tilton, the vice president for public policy at Tala, the group who has lobbied against SOS's other proposals, told the committee something surprising.

[Cheryl Pangburn]

Good afternoon. My name is Carmen Tilton. I'm the VP of public policy for the Texas Assisted Living association, known as tala. I'm here to testify in support of the committee sub for Senate Bill 1283.

[Charlie Scudder]

Tilton had given us a written statement while we were putting together season two, and I read that to you in episode six. It said that TALA would support regulations that balance safety and independence for senior living residents. Seeing how they'd opposed these measures in the past, I wasn't sure what to expect in this legislative session. Tilton explained to the committee that this version was the result of negotiations between Parker's office and her own. She said the bill maintained a careful balance between safety and liberty.

[Cheryl Pangburn]

TALA appreciates that this bill directs senior living communities to have a proactive communications policy with their residents, but that it doesn't push into unnecessary scaremongering. TALOS members want residents to be cautious and aware that their apartments are not Fort Knox. But at the same time, it is important that residents continue to enjoy their independence. When a resident chooses to move into senior living, safety and community are important considerations. We support resident independence. We maintain privacy. We try to keep people safe. We appreciate this careful approach adopted by the committee set for 1283.

[Charlie Scudder]

Kohlkerst, the committee chair, had a few questions about why the previous bills had failed.

[Lauren Smith]

Carmen, this bill did not make it to the governor's desk. I think it actually died on this side.

[Cheryl Pangburn]

Correct.

[Lauren Smith]

And we were talking. I mean, it got over here so, so late, I believe. Am I right?

[Cheryl Pangburn]

It was an extended stakeholder process, and there was a cause of action that was removed in the house. And it was a lot. Quite a bit of back and forth, forth. And then this bill picked up that. That sort of final step, and that was the starting point for this conversation.

[Lauren Smith]

So you think there's pretty good unity around this?

[Cheryl Pangburn]

Yes.

[Lauren Smith]

Consensus would be the word.

[Cheryl Pangburn]

Yes.

[Lauren Smith]

Okay, great. We get a lot of handouts, but the handout that was given with all the pictures of those that died from one serial killer, really just incredible that that could happen in our society. So sad. Thank you. Senate Bill 1283 will be left pending at this time.

[Charlie Scudder]

At the end of the day, the Senate committee left the bill pending for now. That's what happens to most bills when they're first considered in committee hearings. It could die there. Last session, the same committee didn't even schedule the SOSs bill for a hearing, so just getting this far is a big step. Or the bill could be referred to the full Senate for a vote. If it passes there, it would go to the House for the same process. If it does, head to the governor's desk to be signed into law. We'll be back with another update. If you're a Texas resident and want to let your state legislators know what you think about these proposals, you can look up your representative at WRM Capital Texas. That's WRM for whorepresentsme.capital with an O texas.gov if you'd like to learn more about SOSS and their legislative efforts, you can go to secure our seniors safety.org and that's a plural seniors. So it's S e C U R E O u r S e N I O r s s a F-T-E-Y.org and I know that's a lot, so we'll put both links in the show. Notes the Unforgotten is a Free range production. Season 2 Unnatural Causes is created, written and hosted by me, Charlie Scudder. Our producer is Wes Ferguson. Theme song by AJ LeGrand Wes Ferguson is the Executive Producer at Free Range.