LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS: A 23-year-old Massachusetts man was arrested for allegedly beating his mother to death while she was visiting for the weekend. According to a press release issued by Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Lowell Police Department Superintendent Greg Hudon, Michael Belous' mother was staying at his home over the weekend.
In the early morning hours of July 17, LPD officers responded to a call regarding a woman who had been beaten up and was “barely breathing” at a home located at a condominium complex on Middlesex Road in Lowell, Massachusetts. It was later identified that the emergency caller was Belous himself. First responders said that they located the victim, identified as Vainer, upon arriving at the address and noted that she had “obvious bruising to her face” as well as “other apparent trauma.” Paramedics declared her dead on the scene. The case has since been referred to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for Middlesex County which will conclude the manner and cause of Vainer’s tragic demise.
Who is Michael Belous?
Belous who beat his mother to death, was taken into custody on Monday, July 18. He is charged with one count of assault and battery on a household or family member and one count of assault and battery causing serious bodily injury in the death of 51-year-old Elena Vainer.
Belous appeared before Lowell District Court Judge Daniel Crane for a hearing where Middlesex Assistant District Attorney Yashmeen Desai asked the court to keep him in detention without bond, as per a report from The Lowell Sun. She said that the prosecutors are currently anticipating that they will be filing additional and more serious charges against Belous in the coming days.
A police report told that when Belous called 911, he informed the emergency dispatcher that he had simply “discovered” his mother “down on the floor” in his apartment and that she “appeared to have been beaten up." He was instructed to begin CPR and was reportedly performing chest compressions on his mother when the authorities arrived.
What injuries did Elena Vainer suffer?
The first officer on the scene told detectives that Belous’ mother had significant “swelling and bruising around her face” and her right eye was particularly blackened. She also appeared “very pale,” was “cold to the touch,” and had “blood pooling around her back." An investigator told that these details indicate that the victim “being in the spot for a much longer time than [Belous] said.”
What did Michael Belous say?
Belous reportedly said that he was the only other person in the house that day when questioned about the murder. However, he then refused to answer any questions without his lawyer or the presence of his father. Authorities then informed him that his mother was dead and he “fell to the floor” which is when they noticed his injuries and bruises on both of his hands. During Monday's hearing, ADA Desai told the court that Belous’ injuries were “consistent with having been in a recent struggle.” “The defendant claiming that she was breathing moments earlier was inconsistent with the officers’ observations on the scene,” she said. “It was more consistent with a physical struggle that resulted in her death.”
According to Boston Fox affiliate WFXT, a neighbor told the outlet in an interview that she saw the scene after police arrived and that the accused was acting strange. “He was out of his mind,” the neighbor reportedly told. “He was just screaming and acting strange.” Belous was ordered to be held without bond and is currently scheduled to return to court for a dangerousness hearing on Thursday.
