Woman charged with manslaughter in the death of a Brockton mother

Prosecutors announced Friday that three women have been charged in connection with the neglect and death of a 79-year-old woman in Brockton.

According to Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, Eva Cardoso, 53, Kayla Cardoso, 31, and Lisa Hamilton, 64, were indicted and arraigned in Brockton Superior Court on charges including homicide, elder neglect by a caregiver, theft and Medicaid fraud. Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz.

Prosecutors alleged that the women’s failure to provide proper care to the elderly victim, Dinora Cardoso, ultimately led to her death.

According to the District Attorney’s Office, Eva is Dinora’s daughter and worked through a state program as Dinora’s Personal Caregiver (PCA). Kayla, Eva’s niece and Dinora’s granddaughter, served as the victim’s health care representative.

According to officials, the women allegedly billed MassHealth for services that were not provided, including for services allegedly provided while Dinora was in the hospital and after her death.

On May 17, 2023, Eva called 911 and reported that her mother needed an ambulance. According to officials, first responders discovered that the victim was covered in cockroaches, bedbugs and feces. The prosecutor’s office said Dinora died in hospital two days later from necrotizing fasciitis and sepsis caused by infected ulcers.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Hamilton was a registered nurse and was responsible for visiting Dinora at least once a week to check on her care, health and medication intake. Investigators say that in the week before Eva’s 911 call, Hamilton allegedly visited Dinora and reported that she was clean, well-groomed, alert and that her diabetes was well controlled.

“She made no mention of bedsores, feces, bedbugs or cockroaches,” the U.S. attorney’s office said in a news release. “It was clear from medical and hospital records that Dinora had completely uncontrolled diabetes. Additionally, an expert entomologist informed investigators that the level of insect infestation experienced by Dinora would take at least several weeks to build up.”

Bank records show that Eva regularly gave Kayla part of the PCA check, according to officials. According to investigators, MassHealth paid Eva more than $140,000 for Dinora’s care.

The women are scheduled to appear in Brockton Superior Court for a pretrial hearing on Jan. 15.