Son Allegedly Beat Parents, Set Home on Fire and Then Escaped — as His Mom and Dad Said 'Come Back' and 'Help Us' By Samira Asma-Sadeque

A Massachusetts man was arrested and has been charged after his elderly parents were found dead in their burning home earlier this week.

Venture Hazard, 76, and Donald Hazard, 83, were killed in their North Adams residence early in the morning on Monday, Nov. 24, the North Adams Police Department (NAPD) said in a news release shared on Facebook.

Authorities subsequently arrested the couple’s 44-year-old son, Darius Hazard, later that day. He allegedly told police he assaulted his parents, poured gasoline on the first floor of the home and set it on fire before fleeing, authorities said.

Darius was arraigned on one charge of arson, per police. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, per WNYT.

It is not clear if Darius currently has legal representation to comment on his behalf.

In a probable cause report obtained by News 10, police said Darius told them he was struggling to cope with his mother’s advanced arthritis and scoliosis.

Police added that Darius stated he and his father were helping Venture after she fell, when he grew agitated and attacked them.

As he left the residence after setting the fire, Darius told police he could hear his parents begging him for help, WNYT reported, citing court documents.

Darius said he could hear his mom and dad yelling “come back” and “help me, help us, we are in trouble,” per a probable cause report obtained by the outlet.

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The Hazards’ neighbors notified emergency personnel that something was wrong when they saw smoke coming out of the house, the NAPD said. Officers found the couple dead in their living room, according to WNYT.

Police eventually went to Darius’ job to look for him. There, his coworkers said he didn’t show up, which was unlike him, NBC Boston reported. He was later found and arrested.

Reacting to the tragedy, and how it has rocked the local area, Jamie Lynn King told News 10, “The entire family, Darius included, have been a pillar in this community for many decades.”

“Everyone knows them. Everyone loved them,” the resident continued. “Don’t just judge a book by the shortest words you’ve heard because there’s got to be a lot for it to have happened the way it did.”

Nate Shoot, a family friend, told the outlet of Darius: “I just hope he gets the help he needs, and we get answers, because this is not like him at all.”