Richard Lombardi, Marshfield, Massachusetts man kills his 80 year old roommate, Frank Grisworld after pushing him to the floor after becoming upset that he was standing too close over Thanksgiving meal preparations.
A Massachusetts man is alleged to have caused the death of his 80 year old roommate after becoming incensed with the older man —who he accused of often sneezing — coming into the kitchen during Thanksgiving meal preparations.
Frank Griswold, 80, was going into the kitchen to wash dishes on Wednesday when his roommate Richard Lombardi, 65, threw him to the ground, leading to the man’s death, the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office stated, according to WCVB.
Lombardi, 65, and Griswold had argued earlier in the day about the older roommate standing near the food as it was being cooked.
Man blames 80 year old roommate man’s death for standing too close to food
During police questioning Lombardi said that Griswold ‘often sneezes’ and he didn’t want anything to ‘contaminate the food.’
It was whilst leftovers were cooling near the kitchen sink at the two men’s Marshfield home that the octogenarian entered the kitchen to clean his dish.
Lombardi told police he returned to the kitchen and found Griswold ‘too close’ to the food and shoved him away and ‘surmised that Frank Griswold’s feet got tangled up, and he fell and hit his head on the floor,’ WCVB reported.
When the older man did not get up, Lombardi called 911.
An unconscious Griswold was found ‘laying face-up on the floor in the kitchen in a pool of blood’ by first responders, prosecutors told the court.
Court documents suggest the deceased man might have been hit in the face somehow — describing cuts on that part of his body.
It remained unclear Lombardi hadn’t simply covered the food with lids, move it out of the way, or simply put foil over it… and then lash out at the older man.
‘It sounds like an accident based on what the evidence was that was revealed in court,’ said Lombardi’s attorney, Marshall Johnson, Friday morning, WCVB reported.
The two roommates were friends for three decades and had been living together for more than 20 years. Court records show the pair have lived in the home since 2008 and have been roommates since 2001.
‘He was shocked because nobody had told him that his friend had passed away until I told him this morning,’ Johnson said.
Lombardi upon his arrest was charged with assault and battery on a person 60 and over, causing serious injury, and involuntary manslaughters. He pleaded not guilty and is due back in court on Dec. 4.
