Chesterfield Mother to Stand Trial in Son's Death

TL;DR: A Chesterfield County mother will stand trial in the death of her 28-year-old autistic son, who weighed 65 pounds and showed signs of severe neglect.

The story

Manisha Nath, 60, of Chesterfield County will stand trial on felony charges of abuse and neglect of a vulnerable adult resulting in death, following a preliminary hearing on June 23, 2026. Her 28-year-old son, Somak Nath, a nonverbal autistic man who was completely dependent on caregiving, died on October 22, 2025, after collapsing at the family home in the Woodlake neighborhood.

When paramedics arrived after a 911 call, Somak was found unresponsive in the driveway. A neighbor performed CPR until emergency responders took over. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. A medical examiner found that Somak weighed approximately 65 pounds at the time of his death and exhibited severe signs of neglect, including malnutrition, missing and rotted teeth, and poor hygiene conditions consistent with weeks of inadequate bathing.

During the preliminary hearing, Detective testimony revealed that investigators discovered the family home in an uninhabitable condition. The residence contained minimal food supplies, extensive black mold, no functioning toilets, and excessive clutter. Police noted that Somak had not bathed in 10 to 15 days. According to court documents, Manisha Nath told investigators she provided him only "a bucket of water and mug to bathe himself" and claimed she did not know what autism was, despite her son's documented developmental disability and complete dependence on her care. Court records indicate Nath holds a PhD in biochemistry and had lived in Chesterfield County for 17 years.

Judge Scott Landry rejected the defense's motion to dismiss the charges, calling the home "uninhabitable" after viewing photographs and evidence. He found sufficient evidence to proceed to trial. Nath remains detained without bond pending trial. Her attorney, Christian Jones, has not publicly indicated the defense strategy, though the dismissal motion suggests potential challenges to the charges or evidence.

Somak's neighbors told reporters they rarely saw him and had raised concerns about his welfare. One neighbor said she would occasionally see him "sitting in the car in the driveway...seemed content," but noted his isolated conditions were troubling. The case has drawn attention to issues of vulnerability assessment and protective services for nonverbal adults living with family caregivers.

Key players

• Manisha Nath: Defendant; 60-year-old mother charged with abuse and neglect
• Somak Nath: Victim; 28-year-old nonverbal autistic son
• Judge Scott Landry: Judge who determined sufficient evidence to proceed to trial
• Christian Jones: Defense attorney for Manisha Nath

Key dates

• 2025-10-22: Somak Nath collapsed and died
• 2026-06-23: Preliminary hearing; Judge ruled case will proceed to trial

Why it matters: The case highlights the vulnerability of nonverbal, autistic adults who depend entirely on family caregivers and raises questions about the adequacy of protective oversight and intervention systems in Chesterfield County. The trial will test how Virginia's laws hold caregivers accountable for the welfare of dependent adults in their custody.

Places

• Woodlake neighborhood

Related links

• Chesterfield County Circuit Court
• Virginia Department of Justice

Read the original at Google News: Chesterfield County →

Sources

• Chesterfield man weighed 65 pounds when he died. Now his mom will stand trial for abuse.
• 28-year-old Chesterfield man weighed 65 pounds when he died, police say; mother charged with abuse, neglect
• Judge finds Chesterfield mother charged in death of adult son competent to stand trial