A former Arby’s manager in Oklahoma has been arrested on felony charges and is now facing a massive civil lawsuit after allegedly spitting into a customer’s food, an act that prosecutors say gave the victim herpes.
The disturbing case unfolded in the small town of Broken Bow, where 38-year-old Amanda Hendricks, a former shift manager at the local Arby’s, was taken into custody on Sunday. She is charged with felony poisoning with intent to injure, a crime that carries up to five years in prison.
The allegations first surfaced on April 1st, 2026, when victim Jenica Church walked into the Broken Bow Police Department to file a report. Church told officers that on March 28th, she had gone through the Arby’s drive-thru and ordered the four for $10 sandwich meal.
According to the probable cause affidavit obtained by Law & Crime, Church reported that she believed a worker had deliberately contaminated her food. Police launched an investigation and obtained surveillance footage from the restaurant through a search warrant.
The video evidence, captured on the night of March 28th, is described as devastating. At 52 minutes and 57 seconds into the footage, Hendricks is seen removing meat from a slicer. She lifts the meat to neck level, leans her head down, and saliva can be seen leaving her mouth and landing on the sandwich.
Hendricks then continued making the other three sandwiches and sent the order out to Church. When police contacted Hendricks for an interview, she initially agreed but later called to cancel, citing transportation issues. During that phone call, she made a stunning admission.
While speaking with the officer, Hendricks stated that she had seen the footage and was not going to waste anyone’s time. She reportedly said, “Yes, she did it,” effectively confessing to the act.
But the case took an even more alarming turn when Church began experiencing symptoms days after eating the contaminated food. She developed a lesion on her lip and sought medical treatment from Dr. Herron in Broken Bow. Testing confirmed she had contracted HSV-1, the virus that causes oral herpes.
Church claims she never had herpes before this incident. She had never tested positive for the virus and had never experienced any symptoms, including cold sores or lesions. Medical records obtained by her legal team confirm the diagnosis and subsequent treatment.
The civil lawsuit, filed by Church and her family, paints a horrifying picture of the aftermath. Church now lives in constant fear of transmitting the virus to her husband, Jason Dollarhide, and her two minor children. She has avoided kissing and hugging her children and has stopped intimate contact with her husband.
The complaint alleges that Hendricks knew she had herpes at the time of the incident and was experiencing an active outbreak with visible lesions. This knowledge is critical to establishing intent in both the criminal and civil cases.
The lawsuit names not only Hendricks but also the corporate entities that own and operate the Arby’s restaurant. These include ARBI ARC Restaurants LLC and Flynn Restaurant Group LP, which controls hundreds of Arby’s locations across the country.
The family’s attorney, Will Block, stated that the company’s response was deeply troubling. According to the complaint, when Church’s mother-in-law Patricia contacted the corporate office, a representative claimed they would review the surveillance footage but never did.
The complaint further alleges that a company representative lied to Patricia about watching the video and claimed the food was safe. Then, the lawsuit claims, the company offered Church and her family free sandwiches and just $5 to make the matter go away.
The civil complaint includes 14 separate causes of action, ranging from battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress to negligence and products liability. The family is seeking both compensatory and punitive damages.
The legal strategy hinges on the doctrine of respondeat superior, which holds employers liable for the actions of their employees committed within the scope of their employment. Since Hendricks was preparing food during her shift, the companies could be held financially responsible.
The criminal case also presents significant challenges for Hendricks. The surveillance footage, combined with her alleged confession, provides powerful evidence for prosecutors. Defense attorneys may attempt to have the footage suppressed by arguing the search warrant was defective.
Legal experts note that even if the spitting incident is proven, prosecutors must establish that Hendricks had the specific intent to injure Church. This requires proving she knew she had herpes and deliberately contaminated the food with the intent to transmit the virus.
Church reported that she and Hendricks had a minor history, though she described it as “nothing major.” She speculated that Hendricks may have been angry because the restaurant was about to close when she placed her order.
The impact on Church’s family has been devastating. Her husband, Steven Dollarhide, also consumed the contaminated food, as did his mother, who was on hospice care at the time. While they have not tested positive, they live in fear of potential outbreaks.
Church’s mother-in-law expressed her anguish, saying her son cannot kiss her and that she sees the effect this is having on her grandchildren. “You bet I’m angry,” she told local reporters. “I see what it’s doing to my grandchildren, my son, my husband.”
The case has sent shockwaves through the small community of Broken Bow, where everyone knows everyone. Church told reporters that even her daughter heard about the incident through word of mouth before the family filed their lawsuit.
“I love Arby’s, not anymore,” Church said, reflecting the profound change in her life. She now fears eating out and worries every time she sees a food service worker with visible sores or lesions.
The family’s attorney has suggested this may not be an isolated incident. The complaint alleges that Hendricks may have engaged in a pattern of contaminating food for other customers, raising the possibility of additional victims.
Arby’s corporate office has not responded to multiple requests for comment. The company has not issued any public statement regarding the allegations or the pending litigation.
Hendricks remains in custody at the local jail, awaiting her initial court appearance. She has not yet entered a plea, and it is unclear if she has retained legal representation.
The civil case is expected to move forward in parallel with the criminal proceedings. Discovery will likely involve depositions, medical records, and expert testimony regarding the transmission of HSV-1 through saliva.
Legal analysts say the case presents unique challenges, particularly in proving causation. The defense will likely argue that Church could have contracted herpes from another source, though her documented medical history may counter that claim.
The case has also raised broader questions about food safety and corporate responsibility. Critics argue that fast-food chains must implement stricter protocols to prevent deliberate contamination by disgruntled employees.
For now, the Church family is focused on healing and seeking justice. They have retained a prominent personal injury firm and are prepared for what could be a lengthy legal battle.
The criminal case is set to proceed in McCurtain County District Court, while the civil lawsuit has been filed in the same jurisdiction. Both cases are expected to attract significant media attention given the 𝓈𝒽𝓸𝒸𝓀𝒾𝓃𝑔 nature of the allegations.
As the legal process unfolds, one thing remains clear: a routine fast-food order has turned into a nightmare that will affect Jenica Church and her family for the rest of their lives.
