An Indiana woman and her son have been charged in connection with the death of the woman’s 81-year-old mother at a senior living facility in Norfolk, Virginia. Investigators allege that the woman held down her mother while her son used the strap of his bag to strangle his grandmother.
Court documents reveal that Cleo Loizides was found unresponsive in her room at Commonwealth Senior Living at Leigh Hall. When first responders arrived, she was pronounced dead. Marks on her neck were consistent with strangulation.
Initially classified as undetermined, Loizides’ death is now being investigated as a homicide. Police arrested her daughter, Heather Cummings, 53, of Hobart, Indiana, and her grandson, Clifton Cummings, 24, of Norfolk, on charges of second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
According to the criminal complaints, both Heather and Clifton Cummings confessed to the crime. However, no motive has been provided in the documents. Heather Cummings allegedly told her mother, “Just let go, it’s for the best,” while holding her down, as per the complaints filed in Norfolk court.
In court on Friday, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Victoria Kapper stated that Loizides was last seen alive around 5 p.m. on June 30 by employees who observed her eating. An employee making rounds at 11:55 p.m. found her pale and cold to the touch, and she was later pronounced dead.
Legal representation has been arranged for Heather Cummings, and Clifton Cummings’ attorney, J.D. Garrett, requested competency and sanity evaluations for his client.
Assistant Public Defender Oksana LaBounty indicated that Heather Cummings, who uses a wheelchair, had been diagnosed with various health issues. She had moved to Norfolk to help care for her mother and had been living with her in the weeks leading up to her death.
