Hobbs ‘Pay-to-Play’ Scandal Reignites as Two Foster Teens Die After Placement in Sunshine Residential Group Homes

Deaths of Zariah Finley Dodd and Sarabeth Sokolsky renew scrutiny of Sunshine Residential Homes, state oversight failures, and political ties to Governor Katie Hobbs

Two teenage girls who had been living in Arizona’s foster care system died months apart under separate circumstances, but both cases intersect at the same state-licensed group home provider — Sunshine Residential Homes — a company already embroiled in a widening “pay-to-play” controversy involving Governor Katie Hobbs’ administration.

State lawmakers tell State 48 News they are now intensifying scrutiny of Sunshine Residential Homes, the Department of Child Safety (DCS), and Governor Hobbs’ administration following the two deaths, which have raised renewed questions about supervision, accountability, and political influence in Arizona’s child-welfare system.

Sarabeth Sokolsky: Fatal Motorcycle Crash After Leaving Sunshine Placement

In the most recent case, 17-year-old Sarabeth Sokolsky was reported missing on December 8 after leaving a Sunshine Residential foster group home.

Three days later, Sokolsky was killed in a motorcycle crash on the Loop 202 near Priest Drive in Tempe, authorities said. A family member later confirmed her identity to investigators, according to the same report.

ABC15 reported that Sunshine Residential confirmed it operated the group home where Sokolsky had been living, and said the company followed required protocols when reporting her as a missing or runaway juvenile.

The Arizona Department of Child Safety said in a statement, “The safety and well-being of children in our care is our highest priority,” adding that the agency notified law enforcement and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as required by law and is cooperating with the investigation.

Authorities have said it remains unclear where Sokolsky was between her disappearance and the crash, or how she gained access to the motorcycle, leaving unanswered questions about oversight and supervision after she left the facility.

Zariah Finley Dodd and Sunshine Residential

Months earlier, 16-year-old Zariah Finley Dodd was also living in state custody at a Sunshine Residential group home in Surprise when she walked away from the facility on the night of July 4. She was later found shot to death in Marivue Park in Phoenix, according to Phoenix police.

Court records and law enforcement reports show that Dodd was approximately 22 weeks pregnant when she was killed. Police arrested 36-year-old Jurrell Davis, identified as the father of her unborn child, and 18-year-old Jechri James-Gillett, charging both with two counts of first-degree murder — one for Dodd and one for her unborn child.

In a public update, Phoenix police said detectives “tirelessly worked this case which has directly resulted in the arrest of the two involved suspects in the murder of 16-year-old Zariah Finley Dodd and her unborn child,” according to a police media advisory.

FOX 10 Phoenix also reported that warning signs were documented before Dodd’s death. According to court records cited by the station, Dodd had told her DCS caseworker that she felt intimidated and afraid. Investigators said she believed she could be harmed if she did not comply with demands made by Davis — information that later became part of the homicide case.

A former caregiver who stayed in contact with Dodd told FOX 10 Phoenix that the teen was deeply loved and should have been protected. “She was intelligent, smart, brave, resilient. She was like my own,” the caregiver said.

The caregiver also questioned how a pregnant minor in state custody was able to leave a group home late at night without intervention. “A pregnant 16-year-old shouldn’t be able to just walk out of a group home at night. That should never happen,” she told the station.

“She needed protection,” the caregiver added. “The system failed her.”

Photo Credit: Facebook

Dodd’s case has since intensified scrutiny of supervision standards, runaway protocols, and accountability at group homes licensed to care for vulnerable youth — particularly when minors are pregnant or have documented safety concerns.

You can read the full Fox News Report here.

Sunshine Residential and the Hobbs ‘Pay-to-Play’ Controversy

The deaths of both teens have amplified existing concerns surrounding Sunshine Residential Homes, which became the subject of legislative and criminal investigations after Arizona Republic’s Stacey Barchengar revealed the company made a $400,000 donation tied to Governor Katie Hobbs, followed by a 60% state contract rate increases. You can read the original story here that blew the lid on the controversy.

After Sunshine donated to Hobbs’ inaugural fund, they later received one of the largest pay-rate increases among group home providers, far exceeding increases granted to comparable facilities.

State Sen. T.J. Shope (R-16) said the funding spike raised red flags. “We are talking about millions of dollars, and to know that not many, if any at all, have seen rate increases that large, it was definitely troubling,” Shope said.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes subsequently opened a criminal investigation into whether the funding decisions constituted unlawful conduct. No charges have been filed as of this report.

June 6, 2024, Representative Matt Gress (R-4) said,

“Given Sunshine’s average performance and involvement in past controversies, including the death of 9-year-old Jakob Blodgett, I was shocked to learn in the article that the Department of Child Safetyincreased Sunshine’s rates by 60%. No other group home provider has received a rate increase during Hobbs’ tenure despite requests from providers. None is paid as much per day than Sunshine.

Yesterday, Senator T.J. Shope sent you a letter outlining five potential violations of state law, including bribery, fraud, improper procurement, conflicts of interest, and illegal expenditure of state monies.

In my capacity as chairman of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, I want you to know that the Auditor General’s Office stands ready to partner with you in getting the facts about this troubling matter. Make no mistake, we will allocate the resources the Auditor General needs to help restore what appears to be a major breach of trust in our government.“

There have been no updates or public statements have been issued by the Arizona Auditor General, Attorney General Kris Mayes, or Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell.

Governor Hobbs’ office has denied wrongdoing, calling the investigation partisan. Her administration said, “It is outrageous to suggest her administration would not do what’s right for children in foster care.”

While the deaths of Zariah Finley Dodd and Sarabeth Sokolsky occurred under different circumstances, lawmakers and advocates say the cases together underscore broader concerns about how foster youth are supervised, how group homes are monitored, and whether political influence has affected accountability.

As investigations continue on multiple fronts, Sunshine Residential Homes remains a focal point in a growing debate over child safety, state contracting, pay-to-play investigations and the integrity of Arizona’s foster care system.

This is a developing story.

State 48 News has asked Governor Katie Hobbs for a statement regarding these matters and will update this story if and when her office responds.