Man Accused of Killing Roommate Who ‘Often Sneezes’ After He Got Too Close to Thanksgiving Dinner: Reports

Mar. 15, 2025

A stock photo of handcuffs.Photo:Getty

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A Massachusetts man has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of his roommate following a disagreement over Thanksgiving dinner.

Robert Lombardi, 65, was charged in connection to the death of his roommate Frank Griswold, 80, after he “shoved” him in a dispute over “holiday meal preparations” at their home in Marshfield on Nov. 27, Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office stated in apress release.

Per the release, a preliminary investigation determined that the suspect “shoved the victim following a disagreement over holiday meal preparations” and he “subsequently fell to the floor and struck his head.”

According to local media outletWCBV, citing court records, Lombardi told police he was cooking a meal and “got in an argument with Frank Griswold and that he did not want him in the kitchen touching the food.”

Lombardi said his roommate “often sneezes” and he did not want him to “sneeze or contaminate the food” being made for Thanksgiving. He said he left the kitchen and later returned to find Griswold near the food and grabbed him from behind and “surmised that Frank Griswold’s feet got tangled up, and he fell and hit his head on the floor,” prosecutor Joseph Presley said, per WCBV andCBS News.

“He did see the victim, Mr. Griswold, near that food doing dishes, said that he went over and grabbed Mr. Griswold from behind, grabbed his back and threw Mr. Griswold to the right and tossed him to the side,” Presley said, per WCVB.

A stock photo of a Thanksgiving dinner.Getty

Lombardi then called 911, according to the outlets andNBC 10 Boston.

Lombardi was subsequently arrested over the incident. On Friday, Nov. 29, the suspect pleaded not guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter and one count of assault and battery on a person over 60 in Plymouth District Court per the release.

Defense attorney Marshall Johnson said in court that the incident “was as close to an accident and nothing more as I have heard in a long time,” according to CBS News.

Lombardi is currently being held without bail.

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An investigation is ongoing.

source: people.com