On November 22, 2019 at approximately 10:48 a.m., the Anne Arundel County Fire Department responded to the 8500 block of Creek Road, Pasadena, Maryland in response to a 911 call from a resident in regards to a medical emergency regarding his ninety-one year old father, of whom he cared for. Upon arrival, paramedics located the father on a mattress in a bedroom at the address. The paramedics noted that he was found on a sunken mattress lying in his own bodily fluids. Additionally, small insects and flies were observed in the bedroom along with a strong odor of excrement.
Paramedics had to physically cut him from his mattress before transporting him to the hospital because he was stuck to the top layer of fabric by dried excrement. A kitchen knife and plastic bottle caps were found underneath his body. The victim was transported to the Baltimore Washington Medical Center for further treatment. Medical professionals contacted police after he arrived at the hospital due to suspicions of elder abuse and neglect.
Upon arrival at the hospital, he was treated by medical staff but succumbed to injuries and was pronounced deceased at 1:51 p.m. Anne Arundel County Homicide Detectives responded to BWMC and was briefed on the victim’s condition by medial staff. A nurse observed insect activity on his body when he arrived at the hospital. Additionally, utensils and bottle caps were found pressed into his skin which caused significant sores/ulcers. Nurses had to clean excrement from his body and also had to shave his beard in order to clean his face.
The remains were transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for a post-mortem examination. The autopsy was performed on November 23, 2019 where the manner and cause of death was left pending further investigation.
Detectives conducted numerous interviews, one being the victim’s caretaker and son, a fifty-five year old of the residence. Detectives learned the son lived with victim in the 8500 block of Creek Road and that nobody else resided there with them. The son’s bedroom was located in close proximity to his father’s bedroom. He advised that his father was bedridden for approximately the last month of his life and was not able to use the restroom by himself. The son was aware that his father was covered in feces and urine and acknowledged and recognized the unsanitary conditions his father was living in but claimed there wasn’t much he could do to help his father.
The son claimed to have hired a home health care nurse to clean and care for his father. Homicide detectives ran down all possible leads in locating the home health care professional but there was no factual evidence he had hired one to care for his father.
Detectives conducted a search of the home. Detectives observed and documented the conditions originally described by fire department personnel. The father’s sunken mattress was found to be covered in excrement and urine. Small insects covered surfaces in the bedroom and trash was found strewn about the floor.
Detectives conducted multiple interviews with family members of the two. These family members all expressed concern over the care the son was providing to the father. The family members indicated the son intentionally prohibited them from helping to clean, feed, visit and otherwise care for the victim. Multiple family members advised the locks to the home were often changed and phones were unanswered when family members called to check on the victim’s well-being.
Detectives obtained hospital and rehabilitation medical records as well as reports from the Department of Social Services (DSS) related to the pair. These records indicate that the father was a vulnerable adult who was unable to care for himself or provide for his own basic needs such as using the toilet, washing himself, cooking, or feeding himself. The records show the son was always listed as the individual responsible for providing care to his father.
During the month of March 2020, the OCME ruled the manner of death as being homicide and the cause was described as pneumonia with ulcers as a consequence of neglect. On Friday, March 20, 2020 the Homicide Unit working in conjunction with the Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney’s Office obtained an arrest warrant for the son. The son, now a fifty six year old male from the 8500 block of Creek Road, has been charged with Second Degree Murder, Manslaughter, Vulnerable Adult Abuse Physical Injury, Vulnerable Adult Abuse House/Family Member, Vulnerable Adult Abuse Custodian and Reckless Endangerment.
Late this afternoon (March 20, 2020), he was taken into custody without incident in the 8500 block of Creek Road.
Even though an arrest has been made the Anne Arundel County Police is urging anyone with information on this incident or the suspect to contact the Anne Arundel County Homicide Unit at 410-222-4731.
Note: In accordance with our new policy, we have not disclosed the name of the victim or the suspect.
