Billingslea v. State

Hazel Billingslea, a 94-year-old bedridden woman, lived with her son, referred to as Billingslea (defendant), and his family. When Texas Social Services checked on her, they found her severely neglected and injured. The son was charged and convicted under a Texas statute criminalizing injury to an elderly person, but the court of appeals reversed his conviction and ordered his acquittal, finding the statute imposed no clear duty to act. The Court of Criminal Appeals reviewed that acquittal.