A Colorado man has been sentenced to a decade behind bars after the tragic discovery of his disabled mother, who was found in deplorable conditions before her death. The 38-year-old, Brian Seitz, received the 10-year prison term on Monday following his guilty plea last month to charges of negligent death of an at-risk individual.

Seitz, along with his 55-year-old girlfriend, Laura Prats, was taken into custody by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office in May 2024. Their arrest came after first responders, on April 29, 2024, discovered Seitz’s 58-year-old mother, Sheryl Seitz, in a dire state on an air mattress in the garage of an Airbnb located in the 6400 block of Kendall Street in Arvada, a suburb of Denver.

Sheryl Seitz was found “covered in filth and maggots” and was immediately transported to a hospital, where she sadly passed away the following day. Investigations revealed that the appalling neglect likely took place roughly two miles away at an RV storage lot on W. 56 Avenue, where the mother and son, along with Prats, lived in separate trailers.

According to hospital records, Sheryl suffered from multiple bedsores, two hip fractures, a “loosely connected wrist,” ulcers, septic shock, and maggot infestation when admitted. Deputies described these horrific conditions in their report.

When investigators searched Sheryl’s trailer, they found it lacking basic necessities—there was no running water or proper bed, and the only source of warmth was a space heater.

For six to seven years, Brian Seitz and Laura Prats were the sole caregivers for Sheryl. During this period, they received state funding through a home health care provider to support her care, claiming more than 80 hours of assistance per week.

An autopsy determined the manner of death was homicide caused by neglect from prolonged immobility due to rheumatoid arthritis and neck fractures.

Brian Seitz tried to explain away the neglect in an interview with local Fox affiliate KDVR. He said they had recently moved her from the RV park to the Airbnb to get her cleaned up. He claimed he tried to remove the maggots from her body, but she wouldn’t let him.

“We were we were trying to, but she wouldn’t allow us to take the blankets off of her after a certain amount of time she didn’t want us to touch her,” he told the TV station. “I didn’t tell her she had to do anything because that’s my mom.  She was of sound mind. I let her make her own choices. I offered to call an ambulance for her every day and I offered to get her help every day.”

Prats pleaded guilty to the same charge as her boyfriend and is slated to be sentenced on Dec. 23.