Former Arby’s Manager Accused Of Giving Herpes To Consumer After Spitting In Food

Former Arby’s Manager Charged with Felony Poisoning After Customer Says She Contracted Herpes from Spit-Tainted Sandwich

An Oklahoma woman says a late-night fast-food run last spring left her with a permanent, incurable infection, and now a former restaurant manager is facing felony charges over it.

Jennica Church had just finished a bartending shift on March 28 when she stopped at an Arby’s in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, to grab something to eat before heading home. She told Scripps News Group, “I love Arby’s, not anymore.”

According to a police affidavit, the order took longer than usual that night. Church recalled thinking the staff “were mad at me because it was about to close.” She said she had some prior history with Amanda Hendricks, the manager working that night, though nothing she considered serious.

Police later opened an investigation after an Arby’s employee reported that another worker had spit into a customer’s meal. According to the affidavit, surveillance footage from the Broken Bow location showed Hendricks handling meat for the sandwich before lowering her head toward the food.

Hendricks, who no longer works for the chain, is now charged with felony poisoning after Church claimed she contracted herpes from food that police say was contaminated when the employee spat into it.

Church has since filed a civil lawsuit against Arby’s, alleging she developed symptoms and was later diagnosed with HSV-1, commonly known as oral herpes. Arby’s has not yet issued a public statement on the case.