State Police arrest Carlisle man after lengthy investigation into elderly woman’s death on rural property

Carlisle, New York – A quiet rural property in Carlisle, New York, has become the center of a deeply troubling investigation, one that unfolded over more than a year before culminating in an arrest this week.

On April 16, 2026, State Police in Princetown took 64-year-old Joseph Polizzi into custody following an extensive inquiry into the death of an elderly woman found on his property. Authorities charged him with Endangering the Welfare of a Vulnerable Elderly Person in the first degree, a class “D” felony, and Criminally Negligent Homicide, a class “E” felony.

The case traces back to February 23, 2025, when troopers were called to a residence on Polizzi Road after a report of an unattended death. What they discovered upon arrival raised immediate concerns. Inside a shed on the property, they found 89-year-old Nancy Polizzi deceased.

Investigators would later determine that Nancy had been living in that shed for months—since August 2024—despite conditions described as unfit for habitation. The structure reportedly had no running water and no heat, exposing her to harsh and unsafe living circumstances.

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The following day, February 24, 2025, an autopsy was performed by Doctor Bernard Ng at Ellis Hospital. His findings were stark. The manner of death was ruled a homicide, with the cause identified as sepsis resulting from untreated gangrenous decubitus ulceration, more commonly known as severe bedsores.

According to investigators, Nancy Polizzi had been in a highly vulnerable state in the weeks leading up to her death. She was reportedly unable to walk, feed herself, or speak. Authorities say Joseph Polizzi, who lived in a nearby residence on the same property, was her son and primary caretaker during that time.

The investigation concluded that he allegedly failed to provide necessary medical care or seek treatment for her worsening condition. That lack of intervention, officials believe, ultimately led to her death.

Following his arrest at his home, Joseph Polizzi was transported to the State Police barracks in Cobleskill for processing. He was later arraigned in Schoharie County’s Centralized Arraignment Part Court. The court ordered that he be held at the Schoharie County Correctional Facility unless he posts bail set at $5,000 cash, a $10,000 bond, or a $50,000 partially secured bond.

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The case has left the local community shaken, raising difficult questions about caregiving, isolation, and the responsibilities owed to those who cannot care for themselves. Authorities have not released additional statements, but the charges signal the seriousness with which they view the circumstances surrounding Nancy Polizzi’s death.

As the legal process moves forward, the focus now shifts to the courts, where the details of this case will be examined more closely in the months ahead.