An Arizona man has been charged with second-degree murder and intentional adult abuse after authorities found his elderly mother deceased in deplorable living conditions. Allen Page, 58, is accused of neglecting his 84-year-old mother, Mary Elenz, to the point of severe malnourishment and infestation.
On September 18, 2025, Page called a hospice nurse for an evaluation of his mother. Upon arrival, the nurse discovered Elenz unresponsive in her bed, with maggots in her open wounds and flies surrounding her body. Court documents described her skin as being sealed to soiled sheets. The nurse, visibly distressed, called the scene the "most horrific thing I’ve ever seen in my life."
Elenz was transported to Hospice of the Valley, where medical professionals determined she was severely malnourished. She died the following day. The Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner ruled her cause of death as pneumonia complicated by skin wounds, with neglect identified as a contributing factor.
Investigators reported that Page provided inconsistent accounts regarding his mother's care, including the last time a nurse had visited and the frequency of her bathing and cleaning. During interviews, Page was found to be sexting multiple individuals in the days leading up to his mother's death, while also assuring friends that she was well. Records indicate Page had not worked since 2022 and had been receiving approximately $1,600 from his mother's Social Security checks each time she was paid. Police stated that Page used these funds for personal expenses rather than for his mother's care.
Previous allegations of abuse against Elenz by Page dating back to 2019 were documented, though these cases were closed due to a lack of substantiation. Page's wife reportedly described him as a compulsive liar and negligent in his duties to keep his mother clean, including changing her diapers and bathing her adequately.
In addition to murder and abuse charges, Page faces charges for illegal firearm possession due to a prior conviction. His bail has been set at $1 million cash. Legal representation for Page could not be reached for comment.