PRINCETOWN, NY — A man has been arrested in connection with the death of his 89-year-old mother who was found deceased in a shed without heat or running water.
Joseph Polizzi, 64, of Carlisle, was arrested April 16, 2026, by State Police and charged with endangering the welfare of a vulnerable elderly person, a class D felony, and criminally negligent homicide, a class E felony.
Troopers responded Feb. 23 to a property on Polizzi Road in Carlisle for a report of an unattended death.
Upon arrival, troopers located Nancy Polizzi, 89, deceased in a shed on the property.
The investigation revealed Nancy had been residing in the shed, which lacked running water or heat, since August 2024.
Doctor Bernard Ng conducted an autopsy of Nancy on Feb. 24 at Ellis Hospital.
Dr. Ng ruled her manner of death as homicide.
Her cause of death was sepsis as a result of untreated gangrenous decubitus ulceration.
Joseph Polizzi, who lived on the same property in a residence, was reportedly Nancy’s son and primary caretaker.
Nancy was unable to walk, feed herself or speak in the weeks leading up to her death.
Joseph Polizzi allegedly did not provide Nancy adequate medical care or seek needed medical treatment for her, which reportedly resulted in her death.
He was arrested at his home and transported to State Police Cobleskill for processing.
He was arraigned at the Schoharie County Centralized Arraignment Part Court where he was remanded to the Schoharie County Correctional Facility in lieu of $5,000 cash, $10,000 bond or a $50,000 partially secured bond.
