Woman had to be surgically removed from mattress full of cockroaches and faeces

Get the latest Daily Record breaking news on WhatsApp

Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info

Join us on WhatsApp

An elderly woman had to be surgically removed from a mattress that was infested with cockroaches, bedbugs and faeces before dying in hospital, prosecutors have said.

During the case, the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office revealing disturbing details of a horrific case of abuse and neglect, noting that 79-year-old Dinora Cardoso had to be separated from the mattress she was attached to. She passed away in hospital two days later of necrotising fasciitis, a flesh-eating disease, and sepsis due to infected ulcers, the Mirror reports.

Facing charges of manslaughter, caregiver neglect of an elder, larceny, and Medicaid fraud in the woman's death are her daughter Eva Fontes Cardoso, 53, granddaughter Kayla Cardoso, 31, and Lisa Hamilton, 64. First responders initially arrived to the house on May 17, 2023 after Dinora's daughter Eva called an ambulance for her mother, but medics could not separate the woman from the mattress.

According to Local Fox affiliate WXFT, whilst her daughter received a sum of up to £111,333 for supposedly caring for her mother, her diabetes went completely unchecked and she was abandoned for weeks. Seven days before the 911 call, Hamilton, a registered nurse, reported after a visit that the woman had been "clean, well cared for, alert, and that her diabetes was well-controlled," prosecutors said in a press release. "She made no mention of pressure ulcers, faeces, bedbugs, or cockroaches," they added.

The elderly woman's daughter, Eva Cardoso, was hired as her personal care attendant (PCA). Kayla Cardoso, the victim's granddaughter and Eva Cardoso's niece, was the elder Cardoso's health care proxy and PCA Program Surrogate.

The women are also accused of fraud, as well as the events leading up to the death of Dinora. The three allegedly billed MassHealth for services that were not provided, including for services allegedly provided while Dinora was an inpatient. They also billed for services after her death, prosecutors said.

Bank records show that Eva Cardoso regularly provided a portion of her PCA check to Kayla Cardoso. MassHealth paid Eva Cardoso over $140,000 for her PCA care of Dinora Cardoso. Hamilton's report allegedly contradicted EMT and hospital records that clearly showed Dinora Cardoso had completely uncontrolled diabetes and that the level of insect infestation she had experienced would have taken at least several weeks to accumulate, officials said.

At Brockton Superior Court the defendants are set to appear for a pre-trial hearing on January 15.

Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!

Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.

You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.

No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.

All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!

If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.

We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like.

To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.

If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.