Melbourne man charged after grandmother's death
Tyler VazquezA Melbourne man was arrested Thursday in connection with the death of his 87-year-old grandmother after investigators found their home maggot-filled and filthy.
Allen Arias, 41, brought his grandmother to Holmes Regional Medical Center on Jan. 21 after she became unresponsive earlier in the day. Doctors and police found Anita Arias covered in bed sores, some of them infested with maggots and other insects.
Her grandson was charged with aggravated manslaughter of an elderly person after an investigation, court records show.
Detectives executed a search warrant on the Count Street home where Allen Arias has been caring for his grandmother who suffered from dementia. What they found was clutter and trash strewn through the home.
Empty frozen dinner boxes and full diapers were stacked against a wall. Live maggots writhed in Anita Arias' bed. Bottles of medication prescribed to her in November of last year were found full.
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"Walking a straight path without stepping or tripping on an object was almost impossible," detectives reported.
When detectives entered Anita Arias' room, they discovered the smell of "human decay" as well as feces and blood stains on the bed and walls.
Allen Arias told detectives he had "slacked off" in changing his grandmother's dressings, admitting he should have taken her to the hospital sooner, according to arrest documents. Police said that Allen Arias had checked his grandmother out of a care facility in December 2018.
Detectives said the woman was in fair health at the time, with Allen Arias being given instructions on how to care for her by the medical staff before she left. The rehabilitation center also called several times but the calls were not answered, records show.
An autopsy found that Anita Arias died as a result of dehydration, emaciation and hyperglycemia. Blood tests showed the diabetic woman's blood sugar was as high as could be measured.
Investigators also said Allen Arias was using his grandmother's pension and social security income to pay for bills and other household expenses while he failed to provide her with adequate care.
He was charged with aggravated manslaughter of an elderly person and is being held at the Brevard County Jail Complex on a $35,000 bond, records show. No court date has been set in the case.