Ontario Woman Testifies in Manslaughter Trial Over Mother's Death
Eva Samonas, a 73-year-old woman from Ontario, has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter, criminal negligence causing death, and failing to provide the necessaries of life in connection with the death of her 96-year-old mother, Visiliki Atanosouki. The trial, presided over by Superior Court Justice Jane Kelly, heard disturbing details about the circumstances leading to the elderly woman's passing in January 2024.
Disturbing Details Emerge in Court
For more than two days and two nights, Samonas left her mother naked and covered in urine and feces on the floor of their cluttered home on Broadview Avenue in East York. She denied knowing about her mother's condition, despite paramedics later finding a severe, infected bed sore that extended from the middle of her back to her upper legs, with skin worn down to the bone.
When Samonas finally called 911 on January 6, 2024, paramedics initially could not detect a pulse in Atanosouki. The frail Greek immigrant died the following day from complications related to "prolonged immobility," exacerbated by a blood clot to her lungs and pre-existing heart disease. A pathologist's report confirmed that her bedsores had been exposed to E. coli from urine and feces.
Samonas's Testimony and Defense
Representing herself in court, Samonas took the stand and, through sobs, explained that her mother had fallen on January 4, 2024, while returning from the washroom. She claimed that Atanosouki was "very stubborn" and preferred sitting on the floor, refusing to get up or allow an ambulance to be called. Samonas described wedging a diaper pad under her mother and propping her head against a couch, insisting that her mother was "laughing and talking and singing" during this time.
She testified that she did not want to go against her mother's wishes, citing Atanosouki's fear of hospitals where her stepfather had passed away. Samonas said she sought help from her brother, a family friend, and a neighbor, but all urged her to call 911, which she delayed doing until her mother stopped communicating and eating.
Paramedics' Findings and Home Conditions
When paramedics arrived, they found the home filled with mountains of clutter and debris, making it difficult to move. Samonas admitted that the kitchen and bathrooms were filthy, with flies in the refrigerator, piles of clothes in bathtubs, and dirty dishes in the washroom sink. She blamed her mother's longtime hoarding tendencies, stating that she had been embarrassed to invite friends over since childhood and that her mother would hit her with a stick if items were moved.
Court records revealed that Atanosouki had been diagnosed with dementia in 2017 and suffered from a heart condition, but had not seen a doctor for two years prior to her death. Samonas claimed her mother did not appear to be in crisis or pain, and she could not recall the last time she had bathed her.
Prosecution's Questioning and Closing
Crown attorney Christine Jenkins pressed Samonas on her responsibilities as a caregiver, asking if she understood that decisions should have been made in her mother's best interest, including calling 911 immediately after the fall. Samonas responded that she assumed her mother would get up on her own, as she had done after previous falls.
When asked why she told the 911 dispatcher that it was "not really an emergency," Samonas said she did not know why she made that statement. Closing submissions in the trial are expected to be presented on Friday, as the court continues to examine the tragic case of alleged neglect and its fatal consequences.
