A Massachusetts man allegedly killed his roommate on Thanksgiving because he stood “too close” to the food he was preparing because the roommate “sneezes a lot,” although he claims the killing was an accident.
Richard Lombardi, 65, was charged with assault and battery on a person 60 years of age or older causing serious injury and involuntary manslaughter. Boston 25 News. He pleaded not guilty in Plymouth District Court.
Lombardi is accused of attacking his 80-year-old roommate Frank Griswold at their Marshfield home on Wednesday after he became angry because his roommate was too close to the food he was preparing for Thanksgiving.
Griswold was pronounced dead Wednesday night at South Shore Hospital after Lombardi allegedly threw him to the ground, hit his head and broke his neck and nose.
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Richard Lombardi, 65, was charged with assault and battery on a person 60 years of age or older causing serious injury and involuntary manslaughter. (iStock)
According to court records, Lombardi told the police he was cooking a meal when he started arguing with Griswold and told him he didn’t want him in the kitchen touching the food.
Lombardi said Griswold “sneezes a lot” and he didn’t want him to “sneeze or contaminate the food” that was near the sink. Lombardi said he left the kitchen and later returned to Griswold, where he stood next to the food while washing dishes.
He said he grabbed Griswold from behind and threw him aside, adding that his “feet got tangled, and he fell and hit his head on the ground,” according to Boston 25.
Richard Lombardi, 65, is accused of attacking Frank Griswold, 80, after he became angry because his roommate was standing too close to the food he was preparing for Thanksgiving. (iStock)
Plymouth County Assistant District Attorney Joseph Presley said Lombardi saw Griswold at dinner and that “he went over and grabbed Mr. Griswold from behind, grabbed him by the back and threw Mr. Griswold to the right and threw him to the side.”
Lombardi said he called 911 when he noticed Griswold was unconscious and bleeding from his head. Griswold also suffered lacerations to his face.
“He was seen face up on the kitchen floor in a pool of blood,” Presley said.
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Lombardi said Griswold “sneezes a lot” and that he didn’t want his roommate to “sneeze or contaminate the food.” (iStock)
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Lombardi’s attorney, Marshall Johnson, said the incident “sounds like an accident based on the evidence revealed in court.”
Johnson said Lombardi and Griswold had been friends for 30 years and roommates for more than 20 years, and that his client was devastated when he learned of Griswold’s death.
Lombardi is being held without bail. His next appearance in court is scheduled for December 4.
