Oklahoma Arby's manager faces felony charge after allegedly spitting in food, transmitting herpes
FILE - Mug shot of Amanda Hendricks. (McCurtain County Jail)
An Arby’s manager in Oklahoma is facing a felony charge after she was allegedly caught on camera spitting into a customer’s food, and subsequently gave the customer herpes.
Dig deeper:
A lawsuit that was filed on June 16 claimed Amanda Hendricks, 38, was working at an Arby’s restaurant in Broken Bow back in March when she allegedly spat into a sandwich she was preparing for a customer.
Jennica Church received the order in the drive-thru and ate one of the sandwiches as she proceeded home.
Church was bringing the remaining food to her family, including her grandmother-in-law who was in hospice care. Church’s grandmother-in-law also ended up eating the contaminated food.
The lawsuit, filed by Church, alleged she began to develop symptoms after eating the sandwich, including a lesion or cold sore on her lip.
FILE - Pictured is an Arby's fast-food bag, sandwich and fries. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Amanda Hendricks allegedly knew she had herpes
Hendrix knew she had the virus and was going through an active outbreak when she spat into Church's sandwich, according to documents obtained by FOX Local.
Church later tested positive for the same Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 (HSV-1), which is also known as oral herpes, the documents stated.
Local perspective:
Investigators with the Broken Bow Police Department said they saw video evidence of Hendricks spitting in Church’s food.
What’s more, Church told KJRH News that Broken Bow was a small town and she had heard from her own daughter that Hendricks was bragging about spitting in the sandwiches.
Hendricks was arrested on Sunday and booked into county jail where she has been charged with poisoning food with intent to injure.
Big picture view:
Church and her family members have all been traumatized by the incident and are all in fear of transmitting the virus to other family members.
After contracting herpes, Church said she fears a flare-up will impact her job. Church also works in the service industry.
What they're saying:
"If I go out to each and see someone with a big thing on their face, I don’t want them serving me food," Church told KJRH News.
What's next:
Hendrick's was scheduled for an arraignment on Wednesday.
FOX has reached out to both Arby’s and Church’s attorney for comment.
The Source: Information for this story was taken from FOX News, court documents filed in McCurtain County, Oklahoma District Court on June 16, 2026, and reporting by KJRH News and KXII 12 News. This story was reported from San Jose.