Texas Janitor Confesses to Spreading STDs Through Water Supply
Contamination of Office Water Cooler and Personal Bottles
A custodian has admitted to disseminating sexually transmitted infections to over a dozen individuals after being discovered contaminating an office water cooler and employees’ personal water bottles.
Lucio Catarino Diaz, 50, a former employee at a medical office in Houston, Texas, for two decades, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
He received a six-year prison sentence, having already served two years. He will be eligible to apply for parole after serving five years.
Diaz may be released as early as 2028; however, he will not be mandated to register as a sex offender.
Victims Contract Herpes and Hepatitis A
More than 13 women in the same office building contracted herpes and hepatitis A, a virus causing liver damage. Hepatitis A symptoms include jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes), fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, and dark urine.
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Both infections can potentially lead to female infertility and elevate the risk of miscarriages, premature births, and pregnancy complications in the long term.
Discovery of the Contamination
In August 2022, a female employee noticed a sour taste in the communal water cooler’s water and began using only her personal water bottles brought from home.
Lucio Catarino Diaz, 50, confessed to spreading two sexually transmitted diseases by contaminating office workers’ water bottles.
In late September, she detected the same unusual odor in her personal bottle. She discarded it and obtained a new one.
Despite replacing the bottle, the recurring smell persisted, baffling her until a colleague observed that her water appeared yellow, suspecting urine contamination.
Spy Camera Captures Perpetrator
With no surveillance cameras in the office, the affected employee installed a hidden camera on her desk and recorded Diaz in the act.
She recounted to KHOU11, “[He] just picked it up, removed the cap, and proceeded to place his penis halfway into the bottle. Then he tilted it up, ensuring his penis was immersed in the water.”
Medical tests subsequently confirmed she had contracted the infections.
Doctors indicated that both viruses could have been transmitted through direct contact with Diaz’s bodily fluids present in her bottle.
Upon viewing the recorded act, the employee reported the incident to law enforcement the following day, providing two water bottles as evidence.
Lacking office cameras, the victim placed a spy camera on her desk and caught Diaz in the act. (Stock image)
Confession and Prior Incident
When questioned by police, Diaz admitted to the incidents.
He also disclosed engaging in similar actions at a previous workplace.
At the time of his arrest, Diaz informed police his motivation was “malicious intent” and described it as a “sickness.”
Extent of the Outbreak
By November 2022, authorities determined that four women, including the initial victim, had been infected with the same diseases.
According to ABC News, following the initial legal action against Diaz, nine additional women employed in the same building reported similar experiences and diagnoses.
Officials have not yet specified the severity of the victims’ conditions.
Herpes simplex 1 virus is a common infection causing painful blisters or ulcers on the mouth and lips.
Herpes Simplex 1 (HSV-1) Virus: Symptoms and Risks
Herpes simplex 1 virus is a prevalent infection characterized by painful blisters or ulcers on the mouth and lips.
Symptoms may include small, painful, fluid-filled blisters around the lips or mouth edges, tingling or burning sensations near the mouth or nose, fever, and sore throat.
Potential Complications
In rare instances, HSV-1 can result in serious complications like encephalitis (brain inflammation) or keratitis (eye infection potentially causing corneal scarring and blindness).
Pregnancy Risks
Pregnant individuals with HSV-1 face a heightened risk of miscarriage, premature labor, impaired fetal growth, or transmission to the infant during vaginal delivery, which could be life-threatening or cause disability in the child.