Massachusetts man confesses to beating parents, setting house on fire and leaving them for dead

A man who allegedly beat his elderly parents, set fire to their Massachusetts home and left them at home despite their calls for help has been arrested, authorities say.

Darius Hazard, 44, was charged with murder and arson after his parents – 76-year-old Venture and 83-year-old Donald – were found dead in the living room of their burned-out North Adams home on Monday, according to the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office.

Investigators said Hazard admitted to physically assaulting his parents inside their home, pouring gasoline on the floor and setting the house on fire, then driving away and leaving them inside the burning structure.

Both parents of the suspect were found dead in the house by firefighters who responded to the fire at around 07:00 on Monday morning. The coroner ruled the cause of death was smoke inhalation.

ILLINOIS MAN Charged with Arson After Allegedly Set Fire to His Home on Thanksgiving

Police later detained Hazard in the Walmart parking lot. Officers searched him and told him he had a knife in his car. He said that he attempted to stab himself and that he was injured in his hip and chest.

According to WNYT, court documents said Hazard told officers that Hazard “got really angry” while he and his father were helping his mother, who has advanced arthritis and scoliosis and had difficulty walking, after she fell around 3 a.m., according to WNYT.

“I think I’m torn,” he said.

Darius Hazard admitted that he physically attacked his parents in their home, poured gasoline on the floor and set the house on fire. (North Adams Police Department)

According to media reports, Hazard was shouting at them and hitting them repeatedly. His father told him to stop, and he eventually did. He then pushed both parents to the ground and hit them with various objects as well as his fist. He even threw a fan at his father.

He poured gasoline on the floor upstairs and in the living room, struck a match, and walked away.

His family was injured but alive when he left. He told police they shouted “go back” and “help me, help us, we’re in trouble” as they left the house.

WHO IS PALISADES FIRE SUSPECT JONATHAN RINDERKNECHT, ACCUSED OF CREATING A FATAL FIRE?

Darius Hazard told cops he got “really pissed off” while he and his father were helping his mother after she fell at around 3am. (North Adams Police Department)

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION

Hazard said he knew he shouldn’t have lost his cool like that. He said he had gotten angry, yelled or broken things in the past, but this was the first time he had lashed out at his family.

He has pleaded not guilty and remains held without bail at the Berkshire County Correctional Facility, News 10 reported.