Elderly Woman Allegedly Strangled to Death by Daughter and Grandson at Senior Facility Police Report
The victim’s mother, who was eighty-one, was allegedly murdered by a woman and her son at the victim’s assisted living facility.
First responders were dispatched to the Commonwealth Senior Living facility in Norfolk, Virginia, on Sunday, June 30, shortly before midnight, following a complaint that 81-year-old Cleo Loizides was not responding, according to a news statement from Norfolk police. Her cause of death was listed as “undetermined” by the investigating authorities after she was declared dead at the scene.
Less than two weeks later, though, authorities declared that Loizides’ death was being looked into as a homicide. Her grandson and daughter were charged in connection with the case on Tuesday, July 9.
Police claimed that Loizides’s grandson, Clifton Cummings, 24, of Norfolk, and her 53-year-old daughter, Heather Cummings, of Hobart, Ind., were charged with second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
Court records that local stations WTKR and 13News Now/WVEC were able to get claim that Heather admitted to the murder, telling authorities that she and her son had strangled Loizides to death. According to the records, Clifton allegedly used the strap from his bag to choke his grandma, the 81-year-old being restrained by Heather. According to the records, the two had intended to murder Loizides by driving from Indiana to Virginia.
According to the documents, Heather said to her mother, “Leave it, it’s for the best.”
The records also claim that Loizides had injuries on her neck that were consistent with being strangled.
A statement of Loizides’ passing was provided to multiple outlets by the senior living community where she was a resident.
“When the death happened, our personnel followed the process and alerted the authorities first. In a statement to WAVY, WTKR, and 13News Now, Commonwealth Senior Living stated, “We have collaborated with law enforcement during their inquiry. “This is now a police matter, and Norfolk City police should be contacted with any questions regarding the investigation. To the fullest degree permitted by law, Commonwealth Senior Living will encourage accountability and prosecution.”
“This has been a difficult time for our staff in the community, and we are offering them emotional workplace support as we continue to navigate this tragedy,” the business stated.
The obituary of the 81-year-old states that the victim was a model in the 1960s and was originally from Baltimore. Before she met her late husband, John, while helping at a theater, she also had a brief career as a banker.
Judi Evans McArthur, a friend of Loizides, gave 13News Now an update on her life, stating that she learned of her friend’s passing from the obituaries in a local newspaper.
McArthur remarked of Loizides, “She was funny, she had a great sense of humor.” “[She was] very quiet, very gentle.”
“It’s just very sad, really very sad,” she said. “I can’t imagine what would cause a person to do that.”
Additionally, according to McArthur, portfolio images of Loizides taken years ago by her late husband—a former employee of the local ABC affiliate station—were saved by the 81-year-old.
“I just know it would have been really sad for him to know their daughter did that,” she stated regarding John.
Heather and Clifton are being held at the Norfolk City Jail without bond, according to court documents, and their next court date is September 23.
It’s not immediately apparent whether any suspect has hired counsel or filed a plea.