Age: Young Adult – Page 7 – Disability Day of Mourning

Cyra Harrison

Photo of Cyra Harrison, a teenage girl with brown hair tied up in a ribbon, grinning excitedly at the camera and wearing two blue first-place ribbons pinned to her hoodie. Name: Cyra Shantell Marie Harrison.
Died: November 23, 2018.
Age at death: 25.
Cause of death: Failure to thrive and dehydration due to neglect.
Location: Elizabeth, Louisiana, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
When Cyra’s death was reported, sheriff’s deputies who examined Cyra’s body and the conditions she had been living in concluded that she had died from “severe intentional neglect”. She died of dehydration in a filthy house.

The first-place ribbons she is wearing in her picture may be bowling ribbons, a sport Cyra enjoyed.

Case status:
Karen Johnson Harrison (Mother), pleaded guilty to manslaughter and conspiracy to commit second-degree murder, sentenced to 50 years.
Marilyn Sue Maricle (Housemate), pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit cruelty to the infirmed, and conspiracy to commit cruelty to a juvenile; sentenced to 15 years.
Glen Elva Maricle (Housemate), pleaded no contest to manslaughter, conspiracy to commit second-degree murder, and cruelty to the infirm; sentenced to 30 years.

Source:
Glen Maricle gets 30 years in starvation death of woman with cerebral palsy
As part of a plea deal, suspect outlines plot to starve young Rapides Parish woman with cerebral palsy
Woman testifies cousin, husband were having affair as they plotted to starve daughter
Mother takes plea deal in case of daughter’s death day before jury selection
Attempt to continue trial of mother accused in daughter’s death fails
Trial for mother accused of neglect in daughter’s death moved to June 2020
Mother accused in daughter’s death denied release from jail
Attorney makes bid for sanity commission, trial delay in neglect-death case
Trial for Karen Johnson Harrison, accused in daughter’s death, moved to June 2020
Mom of Rapides neglect-death victim to face trial first
State will prosecute mother of neglected daughter first in Rapides murder case
2 defendants in neglect death case reject offers of life sentences
3 accused in Elizabeth woman’s neglect death to be arraigned next week
Arrests made after special needs patient died, found in deplorable living conditions
Sheriff: Extreme neglect leads to death of special needs person
Mom, couple charged in death of Elizabeth special-needs patient
Arrests made after special needs patient died, found in deplorable living conditions
Elizabeth woman who died from alleged neglect identified
Police release identity of woman killed
Authorities ID special-needs woman believed slain by neglect
Prosecutor intends to seek bond increase in ‘heinous’ neglect death case
Cyra Harrison Obituary
Court dates set for 2 in case of Elizabeth woman’s neglect death
Rapides grand jury indicts three in the murder of woman with cerebral palsy
Arraignment set for three charged with murder of woman with cerebral palsy
3 accused in Elizabeth woman’s neglect death plead not guilty

Joe Pooley

Name: Joe Pooley.
Died: August 7, 2018.
Age at death: 22.
Cause of death: Drowning.
Location: Ipswitch, England, UK.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Joe’s girlfriend encouraged three of her friends while they beat Joe up, threw him into the river, and held his head under until he drowned.

Case status:
Becki West-Davidson (Girlfriend), convicted of murder, sentenced to 17 years to life.
Lisa-Marie Smith, charged with murder, acquitted.
Sean Palmer, convicted of murder, sentenced to 18 years to life.
Sebastian Smith, convicted of murder, sentenced to 21 years to life.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Joe Pooley
Joe Pooley: Lack of prison recall ‘contributed to’ murder
Murder accused told mother ‘I held his head under water’, court hears
Murder accused ‘bullied and ganged up’ on autistic man found dead in river
Joe Pooley death: Vulnerable man ‘attacked and thrown into river’
Joe Pooley death: Mother ‘frustrated’ by Ipswich murder trial delay
Murder accused ‘bragged about killing’, court hears
Court told pair panicked after alleged attack on Joe Pooley
Murder accused allegedly tried to cover his tracks – court told
Joe Pooley death: Gang ‘attacked vulnerable man and threw him into river’

Vanessa Comer

No Photo Name: Vanessa Comer.
Died: July 7, 2018.
Age at death: 21.
Cause of death: Dehydration and malnutrition.
Location: Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
Disability: Congenital disorder of glycosylation type 1a.

Details:
Vanessa had been born with a disability, and relied on her father–her sole caregiver–for for food, water, and transportation to the doctor. But Vanessa received no medical care for nine months before her death, and she was often left alone by her father for days at a time, ultimately dying of starvation and dehydration shortly after her father finally brought her to the hospital. At her home, the family dogs were were found alive but badly malnourished.

Case Status:
Richard Comer (Father), pleaded guilty to manslaughter, sentenced to 9 years; charged with animal cruelty.

Source:
Autopsy: 21-year-old woman who died of malnutrition weighed only 36 pounds, father convicted
Phoenix man pleads guilty to manslaughter in malnutrition death of his 21-year-old daughter
Autopsy: 21-year-old woman weighed just 36 pounds at time of death; father charged
Phoenix man accused of starving 21-year-old daughter to death, police
Dad ‘murdered disabled daughter, 21, by refusing her food or water for 3 months’

Joshua Alonzo

Photo of a teenage boy in a power chair, wearing a blue shirt and tie. He is smiling broadly. His dark hair is cut short. Name: Joshua Alonzo.
Died: May 27, 2018.
Age at death: 21.
Cause of death: Malnutrition/dehydration.
Location: San Antonio, Texas, USA.
Disability: Schizencephaly, cerebral palsy.

Details:
At 18, Joshua got too old to go to his pediatrician, but instead of finding a new doctor, his mother allegedly denied him medical care for the last three years of his life. He couldn’t eat on his own, and needed to be fed.

Joshua died of malnutrition and dehydration. Though he had always been small, weighing 51 pounds at age 18, when he died he weighed only 38.

Case status:
Alma Munoz (Mother), charged with causing serious bodily injury to a disabled person.

Source:
Mom collected benefits as disabled son, 21, died weighing 38 pounds, Texas cops say
Texas mom charged when disabled adult son dies after three years without medical care
Obituary for Joshua Alonzo – San Antonio, TX
San Antonio mother arrested after disabled son dies of malnutrition, dehydration

Antoin Hawes Jr.

No Photo Name: Antoin Hawes Jr.
Died: May 13, 2018.
Age at death: 28.
Cause of death: Pneumonia.
Location: Augusta, Georgia, USA.
Disability: Autism, ADHD.

Details:
Antoin’s parents kept him locked in a room with the window boarded up, chained by his ankle. He had to sleep on old couch cushions wrapped in garbage bags and use a bucket for a toilet. There were no lights, no heating, and no air conditioning. When he got sick, they didn’t get him medical help. By the time an ambulance was finally called, he had died of pneumonia.

Case status:
Antoin Sylvester Hawes Sr. (Father), charged with neglect of a disabled adult and felony murder.
Stephanie Jones Hawes (Mother), charged with neglect of a disabled adult and felony murder, died before trial.

Source:
Hawes released on $75,000 bond in death of his disabled son
Augusta death investigated, victim kept in room with no windows or bed
Man found dead in Kissingbower Rd. home, parents arrested
Parents arrested in suspicious death of son at Augusta residence
Parents of autistic man found dead indicted on felony murder charges
Richmond County couple indicted on murder charges in disabled son’s death
Shocking Death in Augusta: Parents Kept Autistic Son Locked in Windowless Bedroom!
Autism Memorial: Antoin Hawes Jr.

Destiny Rollar

Photo of Destiny Rollar. She has pale skin and hair dyed auburn. She is wearing big glasses, a black strappy dress, and a gold heart necklace. Name: Destiny Rollar.
Died: April 11, 2018.
Age at death: 22.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Lower Township, New Jersey, USA.
Disability: Milroy’s disease.

Details:
Destiny’s boyfriend was arrested on suspicion of shooting her to death.

She was a manager and hairstylist at a salon, and the mother of twin girls.

Case status:
Charles A. Bland (Boyfriend), charged with murder, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and hindering his own apprehension.

Source:
Lower Township woman killed was a ‘sweet,’ ‘outgoing’ mother of twins
Hair stylist allegedly murdered by boyfriend was devoted mom of twin girls
Obituary of Destiny Rollar | DeMarco-Luisi Funeral Home
Villas Man Charged in Murder Of 22-year-old Mother of 2
Man awaiting extradition in shooting death of mother of 2

Amanda Zriny

No Photo Name: Amanda Zriny.
Died: April 8, 2018.
Age at death: 26.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: Lucas, Texas, USA.
Disability: Intellectual disability; limited communication and mobility.

Details:
Amanda’s father strangled her before hanging himself.

She often attended city council meetings with her councilman father.

Case status:
Don Zriny (Father), deceased.

Source:
Officials: Former Councilman Strangles Special-Needs Daughter, Commits Suicide
Collin County investigators: Dad strangled daughter before hanging himself
Officials: Ex-councilman found hanged, wheelchair-bound daughter strangled in Collin Co. home
Former city councilman hangs self after strangling disabled daughter
Severely disabled Collin County woman relied on father who strangled her in murder-suicide
Former Texas city councilman, disabled daughter found dead in home

Nichol Widger

Name: Nichol “Nikki” Widger.
Died: April 1, 2018.
Age at death: 20.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.
Disability: Unspecified “special needs”.

Details:
Nikki and her mother, Melisa Widger, were shot and killed by her father on Easter Sunday before he committed suicide. Her 18-year-old brother survived to call police.

Case status:
Eric Widger Sr. (Father), deceased.

Source:
Man killed his wife and special needs daughter in murder-suicide on Easter, Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office says
Sheriff: Oklahoma Man Killed Wife, Daughter and Himself
Police: 3 dead, 1 hurt in shooting at Tulsa home
Father of 2 Kills His Wife and Daughter and Then Himself in Easter Sunday Murder-Suicide

Cody Nachtrab

Portrait photo of Cody Nachtrab, a teenager with dark hair and light skin and a wispy mustache. He is smiling for the camera. He is wearing a pale-green dress shirt. Name: Cody T. Nachtrab.
Died: March 12, 2018.
Age at death: 23.
Cause of death: Smoke inhalation.
Location: Deer Creek, Wisconsin, USA.
Disability: Developmental disability.

Details:
Cody died of smoke inhalation in a fire set by his sister.

He liked tractors and enjoyed playing with his toy cars. His favorite movie was Shrek. He had a collection of backpacks.

Case status:
Dana L. Nachtrab (Sister), convicted of homicide by negligent handling of fire and arson; sentenced to seven years in prison followed by five years on extended supervision.

Source:
Woman faces homicide charges following brother’s death in house fire
Clintonville woman charged with starting fire that killed developmentally disabled brother
Woman charged with starting fire that killed developmentally disabled brother
Obituary for Cody T. Nachtrab | Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home & Crematory
Deer Creek fire: Sister sentenced in brother’s arson death

Kaylina Anderson

Name: Kaylina L. Anderson.
Died: March 10, 2018.
Age at death: 18.
Cause of death: Neglect.
Location: Mesa Verde, California, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Kaylina’s mother and stepfather abused and starved her to death. She had been kept locked in a filthy room, and when she died she weighed only 45 pounds.

Case status:
Jill Williams (Mother), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, sentenced to 15 years to life.
Steven Williams (Stepfather), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, sentenced to 15 years to life.

Source:
Couple Murdered Wife’s Mentally Disabled Teen Daughter: 15-to-Life
Mesa Verde Couple Plead Not Guilty in Disabled Daughter’s Death
Autism Memorial: Kaylina Anderson
Justice For Kaylina Anderson
Mother, stepdad reportedly kept autistic, malnourished 18-yr-old daughter confined to a feces-filled room before she died
Mother, stepfather on trial after ‘severely autistic’ girl found dead
Parents accused of keeping malnourished autistic girl locked in feces-filled room
‘Severely autistic’ woman weighed 45 pounds, body found locked in feces-filled room, prosecutor says
Autistic woman weighed just 45 pounds when body found locked in feces-filled room near Blythe, prosecutor says
Young woman with ‘severe autism’ weighed ‘3st when body was found in room’
‘Severely Autistic’ Teen Weighed Just 45 Pounds When She Was Found Dead In Feces-Filled Room, Prosecutors Say
Autism Memorial: Kaylina Anderson