NORFOLK, Va. — A woman accused of plotting with her son to murder her 81-year-old mother at a Norfolk nursing home in June was in court Monday. Her son, who is also charged, was also in court.
Heather Cummings and her son Cliffton Cummings were both charged with second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder after Cleo Ann Loizides was found dead at Commonwealth Senior Living on June 30.
Loizides is Heather Cummings' mother and Cliffton Cummings' grandmother, according to court documents reviewed by News 3.
Both Cummings made confessions about playing a role in Loizides' death, police say. Cliffton Cummings reportedly told police that he strangled his grandmother with a strap from a bag, while Heather Cummings said she held her mother down by her hands and encouraged her to "just let go, it's for the best."
Watch previous coverage: Woman accused of killing her elderly mother in Norfolk with her son's help, denied bond
On Monday in court, the mother and son appeared separately before a judge; however, they both waived their preliminary hearings. The judge stated this means it will go directly to a grand jury.
No testimony was given and the defendants barely spoke. Heather Cummings at one point, quietly answered "yes" to the judge.
A man watching in the courtroom introduced himself to the legal team as Cliffton Cummings' father.
After court, News 3 reporter Angela Bohon asked Cliffton Cummings' attorney, James Garrett, if he could comment on why his client waived the hearing. He simply replied that it's not required and it's his right.
Legal analyst Sonny Stallings, who is not affiliated with this case, offered some general information as to why a defendant might waive the preliminary hearing.
Watch previous coverage: Norfolk woman's daughter held her down while grandson strangled her to death: Court docs
"The law has changed in Virginia now where you can get acceptance or responsibility credits and your guidelines can be reduced. Part of that would be waiving a preliminary hearing and pleading guilty," Stallings explained. "So that’s something for a judge to consider when he’s sentencing. ‘Oh, you waived a preliminary hearing. You’ve pleaded guilty. You’ve accepted responsibility, so I’m going to give you this credit."
No motive has been discussed during court hearings in this case, but Stallings said a so-called mercy killing would be tough to argue.
"There’s really no technical defense in Virginia for killing someone because they’re suffering. I guess you could get sympathy from a jury where a jury would come back and maybe give you a lesser charge such as manslaughter rather than murder," Stallings stated.
The autopsy report lists the cause of Loizides' death as "ligature asphyxiation" and showed the manner of death was deemed homicide.
A grand jury is expected to take on this case in January.
