GRANT, Fla. -- A man was arrested in Brevard County in what sheriff's deputies said is the worst case of elderly abuse they've ever seen.
Richard Cassin was arrested Tuesday at the Grant home he shares with his 82-year-old mother, Florence Cassin.
Initially, paramedics were called to the home, located at 4140 S. U.S. 1 to provide medial attention to Florence Cassin. However, the sheriff's office took over the investigation when Cassin was discovered in "deplorable" condition.
The arrest report described Cassin as "unresponsive" and she "had sores all over her."
"There were insects inside her mouth -- the bedding she was laying on was swarming with thousands of gnats," the report stated.
The report also said there were dead cockroaches on her pillow, her hair was filthy with rotting food stuck to the strands. Cassin's eyes were coated with a yellow and green discharge, and she was wearing a dirty diaper and soiled clothing, and the odor emitting from the victim was overwhelming, according to the report.
The report indicates Cassin would only respond by moaning and crying. She was immediately taken to the hospital and placed into intensive care.
According to the report, Richard Cassin was "visibly intoxicated" at the time of his arrest. He stated that he had not taken his mother to the doctor in two years because "they just poke and prod her." He stated he "figured she would just die."
"It makes me realize why he never let me in the house, he would cut me short and meet me at the door." neighbor Darrell Richter said. "I had never seen her inside in five years."
A different neighbor, however, defended Cassin, saying that he could no longer care for his mother after 20 years and was battling alcoholism
Richard Cassin was arrested Tuesday at the Grant home he shares with his 82-year-old mother, Florence Cassin.
Initially, paramedics were called to the home, located at 4140 S. U.S. 1 to provide medial attention to Florence Cassin. However, the sheriff's office took over the investigation when Cassin was discovered in "deplorable" condition.
The arrest report described Cassin as "unresponsive" and she "had sores all over her."
"There were insects inside her mouth -- the bedding she was laying on was swarming with thousands of gnats," the report stated.
The report also said there were dead cockroaches on her pillow, her hair was filthy with rotting food stuck to the strands. Cassin's eyes were coated with a yellow and green discharge, and she was wearing a dirty diaper and soiled clothing, and the odor emitting from the victim was overwhelming, according to the report.
The report indicates Cassin would only respond by moaning and crying. She was immediately taken to the hospital and placed into intensive care.
According to the report, Richard Cassin was "visibly intoxicated" at the time of his arrest. He stated that he had not taken his mother to the doctor in two years because "they just poke and prod her." He stated he "figured she would just die."
"It makes me realize why he never let me in the house, he would cut me short and meet me at the door." neighbor Darrell Richter said. "I had never seen her inside in five years."
A different neighbor, however, defended Cassin, saying that he could no longer care for his mother after 20 years and was battling alcoholism
That poor lady.
