A Houston janitor who intentionally urinated into office workers’ water bottles, infecting multiple victims with herpes simplex 1 and hepatitis A, has been sentenced to six years in prison.
Lucio Catarino Diaz pleaded guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and has already served over two years behind bars. He will be eligible for parole after three years.
The horrifying incidents occurred at a doctor’s office along Houston’s East Freeway, where a woman who had worked there for 20 years first noticed a strange taste and smell in the office’s shared 5-gallon water dispenser in August 2022. After experiencing the odd taste multiple times, she stopped drinking from the dispenser and began using her own water bottles.
A month later, she made a disturbing discovery. She left her half-filled bottle on her desk, and when she returned to drink it, she noticed the same foul taste and odor. Assuming contamination, she threw it away and purchased a new bottle.
Shortly after, a coworker offered to pour coffee into her bottle, but when she opened it, she saw a yellowish liquid inside. She smelled it and immediately recognized it as urine.
Shocked, she took the bottle to the on-site physician, who conducted a lab test confirming the contamination. Another coworker then revealed she had experienced a similar issue.
With no security cameras in the office, the woman decided to set up a hidden camera on her computer. What she captured was deeply disturbing.
Investigators say the footage showed Diaz unzipping his pants, urinating into the woman’s water bottle, recapping it, and placing it back on her desk. He was seen repeating the act twice over several days.
When confronted by police, Diaz admitted to the disgusting acts, stating he had a “sickness” but could not recall how many times he had contaminated the office’s drinking supply.
Following his arrest, blood and urine tests confirmed Diaz tested positive for herpes simplex 1 and hepatitis A, both highly contagious. The victim also tested positive, with doctors stating the illnesses likely resulted from direct contact with Diaz’s bodily fluids.
As the investigation continued, it was discovered that at least two more women had contracted the same diseases, and a total of 13 women have since filed lawsuits.
Diaz’s attorney, Jimmy Ortiz, released a statement saying Diaz was remorseful for his actions and chose to accept a plea deal rather than go to trial. The court has also scheduled a victim impact statement hearing on March 25, where survivors will have the chance to speak out.
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