Commonwealth v. Cruz

The defendant’s mother, Olivia Cruz, was ninety-one years old when she died of sepsis caused by an infection from wounds that developed on her buttocks as a result of sitting in her feces and urine over a period of several weeks. The defendant was Olivia’s 1 caretaker. A Bristol County grand jury returned two indictments charging the defendant with offenses that, as alleged by the Commonwealth, resulted in Olivia’s death. The first indictment charged him with wantonly or recklessly permitting serious bodily injury to Olivia, an elder or person with a disability under his care. See G. L. c.…