College student accused of beating his mother to death while she was visiting his home
07/17/2023 4:24 pm PDT
LOWELL, Mass. (TCD) -- Police arrested a 23-year-old man this week in connection with the beating death of his mother, who was found dead with facial bruising and apparent trauma.
According to a news release from the Middlesex District Attorney's Office, in the early morning of Monday, July 17, Lowell Police officers responded to a home on Middlesex Street and found 51-year-old Elena Vainer deceased. Vainer's son, Michael Belous, was the one who called law enforcement to report that his mother had been severely beaten, WCVB-TV reports.
Middlesex Assistant District Attorney Yashmeen Desai told WCVB, "He reported that his mother was in distress and barely breathing, and that she looked like she had been in a fight."
Desai added, "First responders found the victim to be cold to the touch with pooling of blood to her back, obvious signs of injury to her face, her left hand and neck."
Belous, a student at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, reportedly told police his mother was breathing moments earlier, which was inconsistent with her apparent condition.
According to WCVB, Desai said it appeared as though there was a "physical struggle that resulted in her death."
Officials also reportedly observed injuries on Belous' hands.
The District Attorney's Office alleged that the victim was visiting Belous at his condo over the weekend. During the visit at some point, the District Attorney's Office said a "physical altercation occurred that allegedly resulted in the victim being severely beaten and suffering multiple injuries to her head and neck."
Officials arrested Belous on charges of assault and battery on a household or family member and assault and battery causing serious bodily injury. He remains held without bail.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the victim's cause and manner of death. Additional charges against Belous are possible.
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