NORFOLK, Va. — An Indiana woman has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of her mother, who police say was strangled at a Norfolk assisted living facility in the summer of 2024.
Heather Cummings entered a no contest plea late Thursday morning, and a judge found her guilty of second degree murder in the death of her mother, Cleo Loizides. She now faces up to 40 years in prison, with sentencing set for June 27.
watch previous coverage: Cummings, accused in mother's death, denied bond
Loizides, 81, was found unresponsive last summer at Commonwealth Senior Living in Norfolk. According to court documents, Heather Cummings and her son, Cliffton Cummings, traveled from Indiana to commit the murder.
Thursday, new details were revealed in court about the circumstances and possible motive for the killing.
According to a Stipulation of Facts document which the judge read aloud in court, Heather Cummings "was convinced that her father (Mr. Cummings' grandfather) was murdered by her mother, Ms. Loizides, in late July 2021, and noted that the three year anniversary of his death was approaching." It also said Ms. Cummings felt his death should have been ruled a homicide rather than an accident.
The document also read, "She confessed to assisting Mr. Cummings in strangling her mother by holding down Ms. Loizides' arms as she struggled to pull the strap away from her neck. As Ms. Cummings was holding down Ms. Loizides' arms, she told Ms. Loizides, "This is for the best because you know what you did to my dad."
watch previous coverage: Norfolk woman's daughter held her down while grandson strangled her to death: Court docs
Cliffton Cummings is scheduled for a bench trial in August.
