MARSHFIELD, MA – A Massachusetts man is facing serious charges following the death of his 80-year-old roommate, allegedly over a dispute about their Thanksgiving meal preparation. Richard Lombardi, 65, was arraigned on charges including involuntary manslaughter and assaulting a person over the age of 60, authorities reported.

The incident is said to have unfolded during the duo’s holiday preparations at their Main Street home in Marshfield, about 30 miles from Boston. Lombardi allegedly became agitated with his roommate, Frank Griswold, for being too close to the food they were preparing, according to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office.

Court documents reveal that Lombardi allegedly forcefully attempted to move Griswold away, leading to a tragic fall. “The defendant grabbed the back of Mr. Griswold and pushed him to the side,” the prosecutor conveyed during Lombardi’s court appearance. Griswold, who reportedly stumbled and fell, sustained a head injury that led to his death, the documents indicate.

It was Lombardi himself who dialed 911 upon discovering Griswold unconscious and bleeding, seemingly unaware of the severity of the situation. During subsequent police interviews, Lombardi allegedly expressed concern that Griswold, who was near the kitchen sink, could contaminate the food due to sneezing habits, thus prompting his actions.

The court documents also noted that tensions had flared earlier in the day, with Lombardi mentioning a prior disagreement about Griswold’s presence in the kitchen. Later, Lombardi returned to find Griswold washing dishes, further intensifying the situation.

When emergency responders arrived, they found Griswold with visible facial injuries lying in a pool of blood. He was transported to South Shore Hospital in Weymouth, where he was declared dead. Medical reports confirmed he succumbed to blunt force trauma to the neck and head.

The two men had shared their home since 2008 and had a bond dating back to the 1990s through their careers in the financial sector. The sudden loss of his friend has reportedly left Lombardi in shock, his defense attorney conveyed, noting that Lombardi had not been informed of Griswold’s death until recently.

Richard Lombardi remains in custody at Plymouth County Jail without bail, awaiting his next court date set for December 4.