Man convicted after his grandmother’s 'agonizing death' from dehydration, emaciation, and sepsis

MELBOURNE, Fla. (TCN) -- A 47-year-old man could spend decades behind bars for neglecting his elderly grandmother, who experienced an "untimely and agonizing death."

According to the 18th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office, a jury found Allen Arias guilty on June 17 of aggravated manslaughter of an elderly person. He is set to be sentenced on Aug. 20 and faces up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Authorities initially arrested Arias in 2019, a month after he brought his grandmother, 87-year-old Anita Arias, to a hospital. Staff observed bedsores on the woman, including some that were infested with maggots and other insects.

Investigators executed a search warrant at the home Arias and his grandmother shared. Prosecutors said they found "filthy conditions" in the victim’s bedroom, as well as "diabetes drugs that had been prescribed to her but never administered."

Prosecutors presented autopsy results at the trial, revealing that the defendant’s grandmother died of dehydration, emaciation, sepsis, and highly elevated blood sugar.

Arias reportedly acknowledged that he was his grandmother’s caretaker and that he knew about her diabetes and mobility issues. Prosecutors also showed jurors photos of the victim’s bedsores.

According to the state attorney’s office, in his defense, Arias and other family members "portrayed the grandmother as a lifelong curmudgeon and hoarder who would refuse food, medicine, and doctors’ appointments."

However, Assistant State Attorney Tiffany Colon responded, "It’s unfair to say she died the way she lived. Elderly people might be set in their ways, but you still need to do what you need to do to take care of them — or you need to ask for help."

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