Janitor Caught Peeing in Water Dispenser — 13 Infected With STDs

Mug shot of Lucio Catarino Diaz. Photo courtesy of the Houston Police Department.

Employees at a Houston medical office were blindsided by a shocking betrayal that turned their daily routine into a nightmare. What started as a strange taste in the office water quickly unraveled into a disturbing discovery — one that sparked a criminal investigation, triggered a health crisis, led to a $1 million lawsuit, and ended with a prison sentence.

Discovery of the Contamination

It started in late August 2022, when a female employee at a local doctor's office noticed something off about the water she drank at work. The office's water cooler had a foul odor and strange taste. Hoping to avoid it, she began bringing her own bottled water from home, only to find the same issue after leaving her water bottle overnight. After weeks of dealing with foul-tasting water, a coworker offered to make her a cup of coffee — and immediately noticed something was off. The water bottle she was handed had a yellow tint. Lab testing later confirmed the horrifying truth: the bottle contained urine. To find answers, the employee placed a hidden camera near her desk as she left for the evening — and what she uncovered was worse than she could have imagined.

The footage revealed janitor Lucio Catarino Diaz, 53, sticking his penis into her water bottle, urinating in it, and placing it back on her desk. Under police questioning, Diaz admitted to urinating in both the water bottles and the office dispenser. He claimed he was suffering from an unspecified illness. When asked why he targeted the water, he responded that he knew the women would drink it the next day.

Health Implications for Employees

The situation escalated when medical testing revealed that the female employee had contracted Herpes simplex virus type 1. She had no history of the infection prior. Additional tests on Diaz confirmed he was a carrier of both HSV-1 and chlamydia. Eventually, 13 employees were tested, and several were found to have infections they believe were caused by his actions.

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

Diaz, 53, was arrested in October 2022 and later charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, with his bodily fluids being classified as the weapon as it contained HSV 1 and other STDs. In a plea deal, Diaz pleaded guilty on March 18, 2025 to one count, and the rest were dropped. He was sentenced to six years in prison.

Million Dollar Lawsuit

Diaz's troubles extend far beyond his six-year prison sentence, as he now faces mounting legal battles from the women affected by his actions. A $1 million lawsuit has been filed against multiple companies accused of allowing and ignoring disturbing behavior by the janitor.

Originally filed on behalf of four women who worked in an East Houston office building, the amended suit now represents 13 women. The legal team — led by Mo Aziz, Morgan Mills, and attorneys from Spurlock & Associates — alleges that the companies failed to prevent Diaz's conduct, despite warning signs. According to court documents, the women tested positive for incurable STDs including herpes and hepatitis A after allegedly drinking from contaminated water bottles.

Attorney Kim Spurlock read a statement from one of the victims, offering a glimpse into the deep emotional and physical trauma experienced by the women, "The fact that a person took the privilege I had of kissing my babies good night the fact that I can't no longer leave my water bottles anywhere or my cups at a party just like that because I don't want no one to catch what I have because a monster decided to do what he did to me," according to KPRC.

The statement underscored the lasting impact of Diaz's actions, highlighting the fear, violation, and irreversible health consequences the victims continue to endure. The 13 women involved in the lawsuit have not been publicly named, with their identities being kept confidential due to the sensitive nature of the case.

References: Texas Janitor Gets 6 Years After Peeing in Cooler, Water Bottles and Infecting Coworkers with STDs | Texas janitor sentenced for urinating in women's water bottles, infecting one with herpes | 13 women file lawsuit against multiple companies after allegedly contracting incurable STD from water bottles infected by janitor, firm says