A tragic argument over Thanksgiving food turned deadly at a home on Main Street in Marshfield, Massachusetts. Richard Lombardi, 65, is now facing serious charges after allegedly killing his 80-year-old roommate and longtime friend, Frank Griswold.
The incident happened on Wednesday afternoon. According to prosecutors, it all started when Lombardi, worried about keeping the food clean, warned Griswold to stay away because he often sneezed. Lombardi later returned to the kitchen and saw Griswold near the food, which upset him. That’s when things took a terrible turn.
Lombardi admitted to grabbing Griswold by the collar and pushing him aside. Prosecutor Joseph Presley explained in court that Lombardi thought Griswold’s feet got tangled, causing him to fall and hit his head hard on the floor. When Lombardi saw Griswold unconscious and bleeding, he immediately called 911.
By the time help arrived, it was too late. Griswold, who had been Lombardi’s friend for 30 years and his roommate for over two decades, died from blunt force trauma to the neck and head, according to the prosecutor.
Lombardi’s lawyer, Marshall Johnson, described the 65-year-old as devastated. “He was shocked to learn his friend had passed away,” Johnson said. “It sounds like an accident based on the evidence presented in court.”
Lombardi pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter and assault and battery on an elderly person. He’s currently being held without bail and is due back in Plymouth District Court on December 4.
The heartbreaking story of two longtime friends highlights just how quickly emotions can spiral out of control, turning an ordinary disagreement into a life-altering tragedy.
