Son charged with murder in 84-year-old mother’s death; dying woman’s condition called ‘horrific’

CHANDLER, Ariz. (KPHO/Gray News) — An Arizona man is facing a murder charge in the death of his mother, who police say was found in extremely poor living conditions.

Court paperwork released Monday detailed the gruesome conditions under which 84-year-old Mary Elenz reportedly lived while being cared for by her 64-year-old son, Allen Page.

According to the Chandler Police Department, Page was arrested over the weekend in an investigation that started last September following Elenz’s death.

Chandler investigators said Page had called Hospice of the Valley for an evaluation of Elenz on Sept. 18, 2025.

When a nurse arrived the next day, she said that Elenz was living in deplorable conditions, with soiled blankets stuck to her skin, flies circling above her and fleas hopping on the bed.

The nurse shared that every part of Elenz’s skin touching the mattress had open wounds and a maggot infestation. The 84-year-old also would not respond when the nurse touched her or shook her. The medical worker called for help.

Court documents stated that the nurse cried when being interviewed about the case and said Elenz’s condition was “the most horrific thing” she had ever seen in her life.

Elenz was taken to the Hospice of the Valley’s facility, where she was cleaned and diagnosed with protein-calorie malnutrition. However, she died the following day.

Court papers said Page had sent text messages to several people, telling them he knew that his mother was fine. After learning of his mother’s death, the 64-year-old reportedly then told them that she died at home after they had gone to a birthday dinner.

The Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner listed Elenz’s cause of death as pneumonia complicated by skin wounds, with the manner of death listed as “undetermined,” noting that neglect played a significant role, police said.

According to investigators, Page hadn’t worked since 2022 and was pocketing his mother’s roughly $1,600 monthly Social Security payment, using the money for himself rather than for Elenz’s care.

Court paperwork said adult protective services first got a report that Page was abusing Elenz on April 18, 2019, but the allegations were unsubstantiated.

That’s when Elenz’s primary care doctor indicated that Elenz could not make her own complex or financial decisions, police said.

The agency received more reports of abuse in 2019, 2020 and 2023, but the cases were closed as the allegations could not be confirmed.

Court documents said Page voluntarily took on his mother’s medical power of attorney in February 2023.

In May 2025, police said they learned Elenz was hospitalized for “failure to thrive,” malnutrition and other serious conditions but returned home under Page’s care afterward.

When investigators interviewed Page, they said he gave inconsistent stories about when he changed his mother’s diaper and when a nursing company had last been to the house.

Page’s wife called him a compulsive liar and said he did not change the diaper enough and had no idea when Page last bathed his mother.

When police searched the Chandler area home, officers said they found four guns. Page was prohibited from possessing because of a 1999 conviction in New York. He reportedly told officers initially that no guns were in the house.

Investigators also said Page had thrown away the entire bed and bedding before detectives could examine them.

Page was booked into jail on Saturday on second-degree murder, intentional adult abuse and for possessing a weapon by a prohibited person. His bail was set at $1 million.