Elijah Hale

Photo of a small boy with light-brown skin and brown eyes. He is grinning. He is wearing a red coat with a fuzzy black hood.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

Nuraina Rosli

Black and white photo of a dark-skinned child in a white headscarf, looking off to the side with a concerned expression.Name: Nuraina Humaira Rosli.
Died: August 17, 2024.
Age at death: 10.
Cause of death: Neck injuries.
Location: Sungai Siput, Malaysia.
Disability: Deaf.

Details:
Nuraina, a Primary Four student, went outside to play and was reported missing. The next day, her body was found in a nearby swamp, and a post-mortem determined she had been raped and killed.

Nuraina was one of the Orang Asli, the indigenous population of Peninsular Malaysia.

Case Status:
A 17-year-old boy (close relative, unspecified) has been charged with murder.

Sources:
Teen charged with murder of disabled 10-year-old girl
Teen charged with murder of disabled girl [WATCH]
Missing 10-year-old found dead in Pos Kuala Mu swamp
Teen charged with murder of 10-year-old Orang Asli girl Nuraina Humaira
Ministry to provide support, counselling to Nuraina Humaira’s family, says Nancy

Dimple Meena

Photo of a young girl with light-brown skin, wavy dark hair, and dark-brown eyes, with a solemn expression on her face.Name: Dimple Meena.
Died: May 20, 2024.
Age at death: 10.
Cause of death: Poisoned.
Location: Hindaun, Rajasthan, India.
Disability: Deaf.

Details:
Dimple was brought in to the hospital with severe burns. She had been doused with gasoline, her family said, by two strange men. After some days, Dimple died; but an autopsy established she had not died from her burns–she had been poisoned. Police believe that, after an argument with her mother, her parents set Dimple on fire, and then forced her to take poison as she lay helpless in her hospital bed.

Case Status:
Karan Singh (Father), charged with murder.
Kamlesh (Mother), charged with murder.
Rajesh Meena (Uncle), charged with murder.

Sources:
Dimple Meena Murder Case: Was the 10-Year-Old Deaf and Mute Girl Killed by Her Parents? Activists Suspect Foul Play, Demand CBI Investigation
Family held for brutal murder of deaf-mute girl

Amy Modrow

Photo of a girl with wispy blond hair tied back from her face; her skin is pink and she has large blue eyes. She is smiling.Name: Amy Lynn Modrow.
Died: February 17, 2024.
Age at death: 9.
Cause of death: Asthma.
Location: Hopkins, Minnesota, USA.
Disability: Asthma.

Details:
Amy was at a sleepover at a friend’s house when she had an asthma attack. She used her inhaler, but the one she had hadn’t been prescribed for her; it was her grandmother’s, and her own inhaler prescription hadn’t been filled. Her friend’s mother called Amy’s mother and offered her to take her to the doctor, but her mother refused and took Amy home.

Amy’s asthma worsened, with her mother refusing to take her to the hospital, until she was blue from lack of air and Amy’s aunt called a family friend, who carried the girl to the parking lot and called 911. When medics arrived, Amy’s heart had stopped, and although they managed to resuscitate her, she was declared brain dead and taken off life support a week later.

Case Status:
Rachel Modrow (Mother) pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter, sentenced to 41 months in prison.

Sources:
Mother pleads guilty to manslaughter in daughter’s asthma death – CBS Minnesota
Mom let 9-year-old daughter die from asthma attack after refusing to take her to hospital
Case Search – Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO)
Amy Lynn Modrow (2014-2024) – Find a Grave Memorial

Geanna Bradley

Photo of a young girl with curly black hair, light-brown skin, and dark-brown eyes; she is wearing a brown shirt and smiling.Name: Geanna Bradley.
Died: January 18, 2024.
Age at death: 10.
Cause of death: Starvation, blunt trauma, pneumonia.
Location: Wahiawa, Hawaii, USA.
Disability: ADHD; foster parents suspected schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Details:
Gianna was found dead in her home, the victim of a suspicious death that investigators soon realized had come from repeated abuse. She had died from multiple blunt force injuries, starvation, and pneumonia.

Case Status:
Brandy Blas (Foster mother), charged with endangering the welfare of a minor, second-degree murder, kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment.
Thomas Blas (Foster father), charged with endangering the welfare of a minor, second-degree murder, kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment.

Sources:
Legal Guardians Accused Of ‘Prolonged Abuse’ In 10-Year-Old’s Death
Birth father of Geanna Bradley shares his final memories of his daughter

Karter Holloway

Photo of a smiling boy with brown skin and short curly black hair. He is smiling, showing baby teeth.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

Deonte Atwell

Photo of a young child with brown skin, large, dark-brown eyes, and fuzzy dark-brown hair. He is wearing a flannel shirt. There is a breathing tube attached to a trach collar in his neck. His mouth is open and he is paying rapt attention to something off-frame to the left.Name: Deonte Atwell.
Died: December 25, 2023.
Age at death: 7.
Cause of death: Malnutrition.
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.
Disability: Spina bifida, hydrocephalus.

Details:
On Christmas day, paramedics responded to Deonte’s home to find him unresponsive; he was declared dead at the hospital. His tiny body weighed only seven pounds, and police who searched the home say they found more than two hundred unopened bottles of the formula Deonte was supposed to get. Deonte’s parents are also charged with neglecting his siblings, ages nine and sixteen.

Case Status:
Michelle Doe (Mother), charged with first-degree murder, manslaughter and child neglect.
Tyreck Irvin (Brother), charged with first-degree murder, manslaughter and child neglect.
James Graham (Grandfather), charged with aggravated manslaughter, child neglect and failure to report child abuse.
Mirlande Ameda (professional caregiver), charged with third-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter and child neglect.
Cassandre Lassegue (nurse), charged with first-degree murder, manslaughter and child neglect.

Sources:
Disabled boy, 7, found starved to death on Christmas as food remained unopened
Disabled Florida boy, 7, found starved to death on Christmas – while food remained unopened
Disabled boy, 7, starved to death in horror abuse as mom and family arrested
5 arrested for starving disabled 7-year-old to death in Florida: BSAO
Mom, brother, grandfather and caregivers are charged with starving 7-year-old disabled boy to death
South Florida mother accused of starving her 7-year-old child to death is denied bond
5 adults charged with starving 7-year-old disabled boy to death in Fort Lauderdale
Murder Charges Following Starvation Death Of Disabled Ft Lauderdale Boy
No bail for mom accused of ‘willful torture’ in starvation death of 7-year-old underweight disabled boy

Azaeliyah Pil-Ah You

Photo of a girl with a fluffy afro and brown skin. She has a yellow flower tucked behind her ear, and is wearing a turquoise and pink blouse. She is smiling for the camera.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

Gayatridevi and Gauri Pandey

No PhotoName: Gayatridevi Pandey.
Age at death: 40.
Disability: Epilepsy.

Name: Gauri Pandey.
Age at death: 11.
Disability: Mental illness.

Died: December 20, 2023.
Cause of death: Drowning.
Location: Valsad, Gujarat, India.

Details:
Gayatridevi’s husband allegedly pushed her and her daughter Gauri into the river, where they drowned. He jumped in himself, but was rescued after grabbing onto a bridge, and was charged with murder.

Case Status:
Vijay Pandey (Husband, Father), charged with murder.

Sources:
Gujarat : Mother-Daughter drowns in Waroli River in Sanjan
Gujarat Man Pushes Wife and Mentally-Ill Daughter into River, Resulting in Fatalities
Man kills wife, daughter by pushing them into river in Gujarat; tries to end life

George and Gianna Kantanka

Two young African-american children, a girl wearing a pink dress and hair ribbon, and a boy wearing a red Mickey Mouse shirt.Name: George Kantanka.
Name: Gianna Kantanka.

Died: December 18, 2023.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Smothered.
Location: Bronx, New York City, New York, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
With their father away working the night shift, George and Gianna were alone with their mother when she called for an ambulance, saying they were unresponsive. The twins were found dead in their beds. Initially, it seemed they had died of natural causes, but an autopsy concluded they had both been smothered.

Case Status:
Gloria Asamoah (Mother), charged with murder.

Sources:
Mother Is Charged With Murder of Twins Found Dead in the Bronx
Bronx mom indicted for murder in deaths of 5-year-old twin children