PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Bucks County man has been charged with abuse of a corpse after failing to report the death of his mother in their home for more than a week.
On Oct. 25, 2025, officers responded to a well-being check at a home on the 5,000 block of Hunter Court in Bensalem. Upon arrival, 37-year-old Derrick Bouffard told officers that he was “just about to call” them, and claimed his mother “stopped breathing” that morning.
One of the officers then entered an open door at the residence and found 70-year-old Cynthia Bouffard dead on a mattress in the middle of the first floor.
Detectives said the home was in “complete disarray” — insects all over, with a strong smell of decomposing flesh. They said her body was “skeleton-like,” with almost no flesh on her bones. Her eyes were barely visible, and flying insects emerged from her body as soon as the blanket that had been covering her was lifted. She’s estimated to have weighed no more than 50 or 60 pounds.
Fans were set up, and baking soda was scattered around presumably to circulate air and alleviate odor.
An autopsy report estimated that she had been dead for about 7 to 10 days before police found her.
Officials said the fridge and freezer were nearly empty, and that a review of Derrick’s Uber Eats orders showed he had about 1-3 deliveries per day for several months, dating to July. Officials said he likely would have walked past the room his mother was in multiple times per day to get the food from the porch.
Cynthia's brother told authorities that she had severe advanced dementia and was completely incapable of taking care of herself. He said Derrick was his mother’s primary caretaker.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for next month.