Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone and Chief James Parker of the South Plainfield Police Department announced today that a resident of AristaCare at Cedar Oaks in South Plainfield has been charged with reckless manslaughter. 

On January 16, 2023, at approximately 3:40 P.M., authorities received a 911 call requesting assistance with a combative patient. Upon their arrival, authorities located Angel Bermontiz, 81, of Piscataway. Bermontiz was restrained in his bed by the staff of AristaCare because he had just assaulted another patient, Clara Sutowski, 91, of South Plainfield. Sutowski was transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, where she was ultimately pronounced deceased. 

An investigation led by Detective Thomas Rutter of the South Plainfield Police Department and Detective Jose Rosario of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office determined that Bermontiz slapped Sutowski causing her to fall and hit her head on the floor. 

January 26, 2023, Angel Bermontiz was charged with one count of second-degree Reckless Manslaughter. 

This is an active and ongoing investigation anyone with information is asked to call Detective Rutter of the South Plainfield Police Department 908- 755-0700 and Detective Jose Rosario of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-745-4045. 

As is the case with all criminal defendants, the charges against Bermontiz are merely accusations and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty.