A disturbing Bensalem case has drawn public attention after authorities charged a 37-year-old man with abuse of a corpse, months after his elderly mother’s death went unnoticed inside their shared home.
According to investigators, police were alerted in October after a neighbor reported a strong, unpleasant odor coming from the residence. When officers arrived, Derrick Bouffard answered the door and reportedly told them, “about to call you guys,” before adding, “My mom stopped breathing this morning.”
Inside the home, officers discovered the body of 70-year-old Cynthia Bouffard in the family room. Officials described the condition as severely deteriorated, noting she appeared emaciated and weighed approximately 60 pounds at the time she was found. The coroner later determined she had likely been dead for close to two weeks.
What has further intensified the case is evidence gathered during the investigation. Authorities say Bouffard continued his daily routine, including frequently ordering food deliveries. To retrieve the meals, he would have had to pass by his mother’s body each time he went to the front door.
The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that the medical examiner found no signs of foul play. Cynthia Bouffard’s death was attributed to natural medical causes, and there was no indication she had been deprived of food.
Family members have since spoken out, revealing concerns about Cynthia Bouffard’s health prior to her death. Her daughter, Carrie Acevedo, said it is believed their mother may have suffered from severe dementia, though she was never formally diagnosed. Acevedo, who lives out of state, explained she had repeatedly urged her mother to move in with her, but her mother refused to leave her son behind.
“I feel super conflicted. I know my mom loves my brother very much. I don’t want to feel hate for my brother,” she said.
“It feels like a movie. It doesn’t feel like it’s real life. I feel regret for not being there, for not doing more,” she added.
The case now moves forward in court, where Derrick Bouffard is expected to appear for a preliminary hearing next month as prosecutors pursue the abuse of a corpse charge.
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