Woman’s body had to be surgically removed from cockroach and feces-infested mattress after her skin got ‘stuck’

Three people have been charged with the egregious mistreatment of an old woman who was discovered clinging to a cockroach-infested mattress that was coated in feces.

In May 2023, Dinora Cardoso, 79, was found in dismal condition in her rotting bed by firefighters. Two days hence, she passed away from a flesh-eating virus.

When first responders reached Dinora’s unit in a senior living facility in Brockton, Massachusetts, which is roughly 25 miles south of Boston, they discovered bedbugs and cockroaches crawling all over her.

Emergency personnel discovered Dinora’s skin spreading over the bedding, causing her to become stuck to the bed due to bed sores and ulcers, prosecutors alleged in court on Friday.

Firefighters were unable to separate Dinora’s body from the bedding, which was discolored with urine and excrement, so they had to take her to the hospital on her mattress.

Dinora was surgically removed from the bed, but the doctors were unable to rescue her.

When she passed away, she had sepsis, kidney failure, and uncontrolled diabetes.

According to the prosecution, Dinora’s severe infections resulted from severe negligence, which included neither showering or using the restroom.

Prosecutors were informed by an expert that cockroaches would have practically flourished in this type of environment, according to Boston Fox station WFXT.

According to a prosecution, they would have been feeding on her wound, and an expert clarified that such an infestation would have taken months to develop.

In relation to Dinora’s death and mistreatment, prosecutors are now accusing her visiting nurse Lisa Hamilton, 64, granddaughter Kayla Cardoso, 31, and daughter Eva Cardoso, 53.

Tim Cruz, the district attorney for Plymouth County, said the three defendants are suspected of plotting to steal from the state’s Medicare program.

Additionally, Eva Cardoso, who was hired to work as Dinora’s personal care assistant, is facing manslaughter charges.

She is accused of billing MassHealth for services that her mother never received.

Additionally, Eva submitted bills to MassHealth for services that were purportedly rendered both during and after Dinora’s hospital stay.

According to prosecutors, she routinely sent her niece Kayla a portion of her PCA check, as evidenced by bank records.

For caring for Dinora, Eva received around $140,000.

Hamilton, a registered nurse, was expected to visit Dinora once a week.

Hamilton allegedly visited Dinora at home one week prior to Eva calling 911 to assist her mother on May 17, 2023, and stated that she was clean, well-cared for, and had her diabetes under control.

“She made no mention of pressure ulcers, feces, bed bugs, or cockroaches,” the Attorney General’s office stated in a press release.

“Dinora’s diabetes was entirely uncontrolled, as evidenced by her hospital and EMT records.

“Additionally, an expert entomologist informed investigators that the level of insect infestation Dinora experienced would have taken at least several weeks to accumulate.”

The U.S. Sun asked the AG to comment on the case further, but the AG declined.

BAIL SET

On November 22, the three women were taken into custody and charged.

Kayla and Hamilton were both granted $500 bond, while Eva was granted $5,000 bail.

All three accused are prohibited from interacting with witnesses, leaving Massachusetts, and working in a medical facility with children or elderly patients if they are granted bond.

Hamilton is permitted to work as a nurse under supervision if she is released.

On January 15, the suspects will return to court.

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