A former manager of an Arby’s fast-food restaurant in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, faces criminal charges and a civil lawsuit after allegedly intentionally spitting in a customer’s food, resulting in her oral herpes infection. The incident, which involved Amanda Hendricks, then manager of the unit, and customer Jennica Church, came to light with the presentation of a detailed process, pointing to deliberate contamination of the meal.
Manager accused of spitting on customer order
Jennica Church claimed she contracted herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) after a visit to the Arby’s drive-thru in late March 2026. The complaint states that Amanda Hendricks, who was on duty and preparing orders, “intentionally and deliberately” spat on meat or sandwich ingredients. At the time of the act, Hendricks would have an active outbreak of herpes and visible lesions, aware of the virus’ transmissibility through saliva. Church reports that the wait at the drive-thru was long, leading her to believe that employees were unhappy with the close-to-closing time.
The impact of herpes infection on the family
After consuming the meal, which was shared with her husband, children and her husband’s grandmother — the latter in hospice care and in fragile health — Jennica Church began to notice rashes in her mouth, something she had never experienced before. Further medical examinations confirmed the presence of HSV-1. The Church family described experiencing significant emotional distress, altering the dynamics of their interactions. Church’s mother-in-law expressed concern about kissing her husband, who also ate the contaminated food, even though he had no visible symptoms.
What is herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)?
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a common viral infection that can cause sores around the mouth and lips known as “canker sores” or “fever blisters.” It is highly contagious and is easily transmitted through direct contact with lesions, such as kisses, or by exchanging contaminated objects, such as cutlery. Once infected, the person carries the virus for the rest of their life, with the possibility of recurring outbreaks, especially in times of stress or low immunity. Saliva transmission, especially from active lesions, is a known mechanism for the spread of the disease.
Security footage and attempted cover-up
The legal filing filed by the Church family includes footage from the restaurant’s security cameras, which allegedly shows Hendricks preparing the food, spitting on ingredients and assembling the contaminated sandwiches. Additionally, the complaint alleges that Arby’s employees tried to hide the truth about the images and pressured Jennica Church’s family to accept free sandwiches as compensation for what happened. In an even more alarming episode, Church’s mother-in-law was offered the “insulting sum of five dollars” as compensation for food contamination, which resulted in Jennica’s permanent and incurable viral infection.
Legal action seeks compensation for permanent damages
In light of the situation, the Church family is seeking compensatory damages, including medical expenses and compensation for ongoing physical and emotional suffering. The family’s lawyer, Will Blocker, criticized the conduct of the employees present at Arby’s, stating that they were aware of the facts and remained silent. He raised the question of whether the manager’s attitude reflected a deeper cultural problem within the Flynn Restaurant Group, owner of several Arby’s locations, promising to investigate the extent of the issue. Hendricks was criminally charged with food poisoning with intent to cause harm, a serious felony, according to an affidavit cited by local news. There was no immediate information regarding legal representation for Amanda Hendricks.