Category: Age: Child

Name: Elijah Anthony Hale.
Died: September 5, 2024.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Hot water burns.
Location: Walkertown, North Carolina, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Elijah suffered severe burns, believed to have been inflicted when he was put into a bathtub full of scalding hot water. Elijah’s stepfather was arrested for child abuse, and Elijah was taken to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with third-degree burns. He lived for 46 days before dying from his injuries.

Elijah loved animals and loved his family. An active, energetic child, he spent his days singing, running, and playing ball.

Case Status:
James Wilford Huff (Stepfather), charged with first-degree murder.

Sources:
Prosecutors to seek death penalty against man charged with killing 5-year-old autistic stepson
Autism Memorial: Elijah Hale
Stepfather charged with first-degree murder in death of 5-year-old autistic boy in Walkertown
Autistic boy, 4, dies after being severely burned in bathtub
Walkertown man charged with murder after death of child, Forsyth County deputies say

Name: Karter Holloway.
Died: January 1, 2024.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Traumatic brain injury.
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Medics were called to Karter’s house, where they found him seriously injured, covered head to toe in bruises. He died from a brain hemorrhage in the hospital the next day. His father was arrested on suspicion of having beaten him severely.

Case Status:
Amir Hines (Father), charged with murder and felony intentional child abuse.

Sources:
Funeral held for non-verbal 5-year-old Karter Holloway, beaten to death
Raleigh father charged with murder in 5-year-old son’s death, family said boy was ‘beaten all over’
Dad allegedly beat 5-year-old nonverbal son to death, leaving boy bruised from ‘head to toe’
N.C. father accused of fatally beating 5-year-old autistic son, causing brain hemorrhage
Karter Holloway ( bop bop ), organized by Kennedy Holloway

Name: Azaeliyah Pil-Ah You.
Died: December 22, 2023.
Age at death: 11.
Cause of death: Blunt trauma, pneumonia, asphyxia.
Location: Lāʻie, Hawaii, USA.
Disability: Learning disability.

Details:
Azaeliyah was sick with Covid and influenza when her adoptive mother allegedly made her run despite her illness, then beat her for about a half hour. When medics were finally called, Azaeliyah was unresponsive. An autopsy found multiple severe injuries, broken ribs, and trauma to the neck that implied strangulation.

Case Status:
Sina Pili (Adoptive mother), charged with manslaughter, child endangerment, and persistent nonsupport.

Sources:
Social Worker Accused In Daughter’s Death Still Worked With Kids
Social Worker Arrested in Death of Adopted Daughter Found Covered in Bruises and Wounds ‘Consistent with Being Bitten’
Kahuku woman pleads not guilty in adopted daughter’s death
Social worker killed adopted daughter, ‘punched and slapped’ child for ’30 minutes’: Police