Father Covered In Waste Dies, Son Charged With Murder: Police

PASADENA, MD — A Pasadena man faces numerous charges in the November 2019 death of his elderly father including second-degree murder, manslaughter and vulnerable adult abuse. Elmer Norris, 91, was found by Anne Arundel County Fire Department members lying on a sunken mattress in his own body fluids. Bugs and flies were found in the bedroom along with a strong odor of excrement. Norris had to be cut from his mattress before he could be transported to the hospital because he was stuck to the top of the mattress by the dried excrement. A kitchen knife and plastic bottle caps were found underneath him.

According to a report released by the Anne Arundel County Police Department, Norris was in the care of his son Danny Howard Norris, 55; the younger Norris called 911. Medical professionals contacted police while treating the elder Norris due to suspicions of elder abuse and neglect. A nurse discovered insect activity on his body and found utensils and bottle caps pressed into his skin that ultimately caused significant sores and ulcers. Nurses had to clean feces from his body and shave his beard.

Approximately three hours after paramedics arrived at his home, the elder Norris died at the hospital. An autopsy determined the manner of death as being homicide and the cause was described as pneumonia with ulcers as a consequence of neglect. Detectives interviewed the younger Norris and learned that no one else but he and his father lived at the home located in the 8500 block of Creek Road and that the two men's bedrooms were close to one another. Norris admitted he knew his father was covered in feces and urine and couldn't use the restroom by himself, but that "there wasn't much he could do to help his father."

Furthermore, the younger Norris claimed he hired a home health care nurse to clean and care for his father, but detectives could not find such an individual. Detectives also interviewed family members who expressed concern about the elder Norris and reported that the younger Norris prevented them from helping clean, feed, care for and visit his father.

"Multiple family members advised Danny Norris often changed the locks to his home and refused to answer the phone when family members called to check on Elmer Norris’s well-being," the reported stated. Hospital and rehabilitation medical records, along with reports from the Maryland Department of Social Services indicated that Elmer Norris was a vulnerable adult who was unable to care for himself or provide for his own basic needs such as using the toilet, washing himself, cooking or feeding himself.

On March 20, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Danny Norris. He was arrested without incident and has since been charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter, vulnerable adult abuse physical injury, vulnerable adult abuse house/family member, vulnerable adult abuse custodian and reckless endangerment.

Aanyone with information about this incident or the suspect should contact the Anne Arundel County Homicide Unit at 410-222-4731 or remain anonymous by calling the Anne Arundel County Tip Line 410-222-4700 or Metro Crime Stoppers.