Man arrested after allegedly feeding disabled cousin fatal doughnut

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 29 Oct, 17:27 · Archive

A 76-year-old man has been arrested in Italy after allegedly feeding his disabled cousin a doughnut despite knowing he could not swallow solids.

A 76-year-old man has been arrested in the Italian city of Reggio Emilia on suspicion of killing his cousin by feeding him a doughnut. The victim, aged 74, died from cardiac arrest caused by choking on 27 June at a care home where he lived. He suffered from progressive dysphagia, a medical condition that prevented him from swallowing solid food.

According to the Prosecutor's Office, the victim began having serious breathing problems after ingesting the doughnut. The suspect, who was the victim's legal guardian, did not immediately alert care home staff. Instead, he bought a canned drink from a vending machine to help his cousin wash the food down, and only then called nurses to say his cousin was unwell. He did not tell them he had fed him solid food. Care home nurses discovered crumbs on the victim's clothing and reported the incident to authorities.

Police say the suspect stood to inherit more than £250,000 from his cousin's assets. The Prosecutor's Office reported that the suspect had previously tried to feed his cousin solid food on other occasions and had attempted to sneak treats into the care home. He is also alleged to have tried to tamper with statements given by family members to police.

How it is being reported

• Man 'kills disabled cousin over £250,000 inheritance by feeding him doughnut'A man has been arrested on suspicion of killing his disabled cousin who could not eat solid food by feeding him a doughnut - he reportedly stood to inherit £250,000The Mirror · 29 Oct, 17:04
• Death by doughnut: Man 'kills cousin for inheritance by feeding him cream dessert he knew was lethal for him'A man has been arrested in Italy after he allegedly fed his disabled cousin a doughnut despite knowing he had a condition that prevented him from swallowing food.Daily Mail · 29 Oct, 14:05

In this story: Reggio Emilia · Italy

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