A man in Marshfield, US, allegedly killed his 80-year-old roommate on Thanksgiving during a kitchen argument, according to the Plymouth County district attorney’s Office. Richard Lombardi, 65, told police he shoved Frank Griswold, 80, after finding him “too close” to the Thanksgiving leftovers.
Police responded to 853 Main Street in Marshfield on Wednesday afternoon and found Griswold bleeding from the head. Griswold was transported to South Shore Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Lombardi told police he had prepared a fried turkey for Thanksgiving and instructed Griswold not to wash dishes. He claimed Griswold “often sneezes,” and he didn’t want anything to “contaminate the food.”
Lombardi later found Griswold washing dishes near the turkey. He told police he grabbed his roommate from behind and pushed him aside, causing Griswold’s feet to become “tangled,” resulting in him falling and hitting his head, according to court records cited by the Boston Globe. Lombardi called 911 after the shove, stating he believed Griswold tripped and hit his head. The two men had been friends for 30 years.
Griswold was found unconscious in the kitchen by first responders. A preliminary autopsy indicated blunt force trauma as the cause of death.
Lombardi was arraigned in Plymouth District Court on Friday on charges of involuntary manslaughter and assault and battery on an elderly person causing serious injury. He is being held without bail. Lombardi pleaded not guilty, and his next court appearance is scheduled for December 4.
The two men had been roommates since 2001 and had worked together in the 1990s. Their landlord reported no prior altercations between them. Griswold had a distinguished career in finance, and Lombardi said he helped Griswold with daily tasks, according to a New York Post report.
The case remains under investigation by the Massachusetts State Police and Plymouth district attorney’s office.