Son arrested after elderly mother dies in maggot-infested Florida home

By Staff Writer — The Brooksville Signal

Spring Hill, Florida- A Florida man has been arrested after his elderly mother was discovered dead inside a Spring Hill home in what investigators described as “horrific conditions.”

Deputies with the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office say the 79-year-old woman was found Tuesday afternoon surrounded by maggot infestation and signs of prolonged neglect. Authorities say her son, 47, was living in the home at the time.

According to investigators, the woman’s condition suggested that she had not received necessary medical care, food, or sanitation for an extended period. Emergency crews were called to the residence but determined she had already died.

The son was arrested at the scene and is facing charges of neglect of an elderly person causing great bodily harm, along with resisting an officer. He is being held at the Hernando County Detention Center.

Neighbors told press that the family had lived quietly in the area for years, and they were shocked by the discovery. “You just never know what’s going on behind closed doors,” one neighbor said.

Elder abuse cases in Florida have been on the rise, according to state data. Experts warn that neglect — often harder to detect than physical abuse — can be just as deadly.