Maryland Man Who Left 92-Year-Old Father To Die In Feces-Filled Bed Convicted Of Murder

A Maryland man who left his 92-year-old father to die in a bed caked in feces and falsely claimed that he had hired a nurse for the latter was convicted for murder.

Danny Norris, 57, was handed a 25-year prison sentence with all but 12 years of incarceration suspended for the horrific neglect of his father, Elmer Norris, authorities in Anne Arundel County said Tuesday. Additionally, he will spend five years of supervised probation.

Elmer was found in deplorable conditions on Nov. 22, 2019, after Danny alerted cops, according to the statement. Arriving deputies found Elmer in his bedroom, lying in a sunken mattress that was covered in his own feces. In fact, Elmer was stuck to the mattress and paramedics had to cut him out of it before rushing him to a hospital, the statement mentioned.

At the hospital, nursing staff called the cops to report suspected elder abuse and neglect. They found maggots, insects, sores, and ulcers on the 91-year-old man’s body.

During a subsequent interrogation, deputies learned that Danny lived with his father. He owned up to the fact that his father was living in unsanitary conditions but falsely claimed that he had hired a home health care nurse to clean and care for Elmer. However, detectives later learned that Danny never hired a nurse.

"It’s truly heartbreaking that Mr. Elmer Norris had to endure such callous and cruel treatment at the hands of his own son during the final days of his life," State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess said in the statement. "It’s my sincere hope that the sentencing provides the family with some level of peace as they continue to heal from this horrific incident."

Elmer's death was ruled a homicide by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in March 2020 and Danny was charged with second-degree murder to which he pled guilty on August 16, 2021.

Danny's relatives said the former didn't treat his father humanely. "The family members described Danny as a drug addict who intentionally prohibited them from helping to clean, feed, visit and otherwise care for Elmer Norris," his relatives told Law and Crime.

Multiple family members stated that Danny Norris often changed the locks to his home and refused to answer the phones when someone called to enquire about his father's health.