Fall River Man Sentenced In Neglect Case

A Fall River man authorities say was supposed to be taking care of his immobile, elderly mother but instead neglected her until bedsores ate through her skin and muscle all the way to the bone has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Filip Cruz was sentenced yesterday following his conviction in August on a charge of failing to get medical help. The 56-year-old Cruz was the primary caretaker for his mother, Olivia, who was 90 when she died in September 2010.

Health care professionals said they had never seen decomposition so advanced on a living person. The judge called the neglect 'stomach-turning.' Filip Cruz's lawyer said his client did the best he could and did not understand the severity of his mother's injuries.