Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Minnesota regulators have investigated the deaths of at least 50 group home residents in recent years. In 19 cases, they determined the facility or its employees neglected the deceased resident. But the largely taxpayer-funded businesses often face only minor penalties. State law caps the fines for maltreatment at $5,000.
When Ryan Riggs died at Fortunate Homes in Brooklyn Center in September 2025, the initial fine was even smaller. It was just $1,000, even though his body went undiscovered for 29 hours — in the group home’s back yard.
Read our full coverage here: mprnews.org/story/2026/04/27/minnesota-group-home-industry-50-deaths-but-few-consequences
Reporting by Ellie Roth, Jennifer Lu and Christopher Peak, with help from Kate Martin
Video by Carly Danek
Audio mastering by Maurizio D’Errico
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0:00 Introduction
0:16 Ryan Riggs
1:17 Fortunate Homes and Ryan's death
3:57 Fines and payments
4:44 The group home boom
6:43 The push for change
8:37 What's next
Minnesota regulators have investigated the deaths of at least 50 group home residents in recent years. In 19 cases, they determined the facility or its employees neglected the deceased resident. But the largely taxpayer-funded businesses often face only minor penalties. State law caps the fines for maltreatment at $5,000.
When Ryan Riggs died at Fortunate Homes in Brooklyn Center in September 2025, the initial fine was even smaller. It was just $1,000, even though his body went undiscovered for 29 hours — in the group home’s back yard.
Read our full coverage here: mprnews.org/story/2026/04/27/minnesota-group-home-industry-50-deaths-but-few-consequences
Reporting by Ellie Roth, Jennifer Lu and Christopher Peak, with help from Kate Martin
Video by Carly Danek
Audio mastering by Maurizio D’Errico
---
0:00 Introduction
0:16 Ryan Riggs
1:17 Fortunate Homes and Ryan's death
3:57 Fines and payments
4:44 The group home boom
6:43 The push for change
8:37 What's next
