Location: Canada – Page 2 – Disability Day of Mourning

Abel Leveque-Flett

Name: Abel Joseph Leveque-Flett.
Died: August 23, 2018.
Age at death: 3.
Cause of death: Undetermined; after severe abuse.
Location: Little Grand Rapids, Manitoba, Canada.
Disability: Epilepsy, developmental disability, mobility impairment.

Details:
Abel was dead on arrival to a nursing station. He had seven broken bones, severe bruising, and burns. An autopsy was inconclusive because it could not be determined whether he had died from his disability or from the abuse he had endured, but his caregivers were both convicted of “failing to provide the necessaries of life”.

Case Status:
Houston Bushie (Temporary guardian), pleaded guilty to failing to provide the necessaries of life, sentenced to 3 years.
Alayna Flett (Family member, temporary guardian), pleaded guilty to failing to provide the necessaries of life.

Sources:
Guardian sentenced to 3 years for death of toddler who had ‘profoundly disturbing’ injuries
Mar 2021: First Nation demands justice in boy’s death
Manitoba’s families minister calls for review of boy’s death after caregivers charged
Temporary guardians charged in connection with death of 3-year-old in Little Grand Rapids, Man.

Carolyn Campbell

Name: Carolyn “JC” Campbell.
Died: July 11, 2018.
Age at death: 52.
Cause of death: Hypoxic brain injury.
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Disability: COPD.

Details:
Emergency services received a call from Carolyn’s house, but the caller hung up, so police was dispatched to check on her. The police say that when they arrived, they found Carolyn unresponsive and saw her husband quickly switching her oxygen machine on; when they asked why it had been turned off, her husband told them that he had turned it off. Her brain irreversibly damaged from oxygen deprivation, Carolyn died in the hospital.

Case Status:
Josiph Cardle (Common-law husband), charged with murder; acquitted because it could not be proven that turning Carolyn’s oxygen off was the cause of her death.

Source:
Toronto man not guilty of murder in sudden death of chronically ill partner
Carolyn “JC” CAMPBELL: obituary and death notice on InMemoriam
Murder trial begins for Toronto man accused of killing his wife by turning off oxygen machine

Douglas Fischer

Photo of Douglas Fischer, an elderly man, somewhat chubby, wearing a baseball cap and T-shirt and leaning back against a metal fence, looking contemplatively into the middle distance through wire-rimmed glasses. Name: Douglas Fischer.
Died: March 29, 2018.
Age at death: 77.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Bluevale, Ontario, Canada.
Disability: Mobility impaired (Used wheelchair or walker).

Details:
Doug’s daughter was dating a man who planned to move in with them and help care for Doug and his wife. But when the relationship broke up, his daughter’s ex became angry and violent. He entered their house, shot Doug and his wife Marian, and held Doug’s daughter Gail hostage. Gail was able to call 911, but by the time police arrived, Douglas and Marian had died from their wounds.

Douglas and Marian had been married in 2011, creating a blended family that included five children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They were both retired.

Case statys:
Kevin Carter (Daughter’s ex-boyfriend), pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and one count of kidnapping, sentenced to 25 years to life.

Source:
Huron County man Kevin Carter admits to grisly murders of ex-girlfriend’s parents
Huron County double homicide victims identified

Levi Illingayuk

Photo of Levi Illingayuk, an Inuit man with his head propped on his hand, speaking to someone off-camera. Name: Levi Illingayuk.
Died: February 3, 2018.
Age at death: 66.
Cause of death: Homicide.
Location: Clyde River, Nunavut, Canada.
Disability: COPD.

Details:
Levi’s son smashed in his father’s ribs during a drunken fight. Levi was taken to the hospital but died soon afterward because he could not get enough oxygen.

Levi was Inuit and testified for the Qikiqtani Truth Commission about an incident that happened when he was a child. When he was about 12, some of his family died when their camp fell through the ice into the water. While he and others evacuated from the camp were gone, authorities shot their dogs and bulldozed the camp before the survivors had time to go back and collect their belongings.

Case status:
Christopher Jaypoody (Son), convicted of manslaughter, sentenced to 4 years in prison minus credit for time served; will serve 698 days in jail.

Source:
Nunavut man jailed for vodka-fuelled attack that hastened father’s death
Levi Illingayuk

Richard Dubuc

No Photo Name: Richard Dubuc.
Died: October 5, 2017.
Age at death: 62.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Disability: Alzheimer’s disease.

Details:
Richard’s brother repeatedly slammed him against the wall, causing a fatal head injury.

Case status:
Robert Dubuc (Brother), pleaded guilty to manslaughter, received a suspended sentence, three years probation, and 240 hours of community service.

Source:
Montreal police arrest 64-year-old man in fatal beating of his brother
Caregiver who killed Alzheimer’s-stricken brother avoids prison

Ryanna Grywacheski

Photo of Ryanna Grywacheski, a young woman wearing dark-rimmed glasses, a choker, and a dark blouse. Her hair is dark brown and cut short; her skin is fair. She is wearing light makeup. Name: Ryanna Grywacheski.
Died: September 16, 2017.
Age at death: 18.
Cause of death: Homicide.
Location: Marystown, Newfoundland, Canada.
Disability: Injuries from car accident; depression.

Details:
Ryanna was killed by her 37-year-old boyfriend, who then committed suicide.

She loved animals and cooking, and wanted a career as a welder.

Case status:
Jeff Kilfoy (Boyfriend), deceased.

Source:
Family mourns Regina woman killed in murder-suicide in N.L.
Marystown deaths are murder-suicide, RCMP confirm
‘I always called her unbreakable’: Regina woman remembers friend murdered in N.L.

Kaylie Lis-Lalande

Name: Kaylie Lis-Lalande.
Died: September 4, 2017.
Age at death: 9.
Cause of death: Starvation/dehydration.
Location: Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
Kaylie’s mother neglected her, leaving her care and that of Kaylie’s little brother to her 12-year-old sibling. Kaylie was often left alone in the apartment for hours, and her mother canceled appointments with the children’s aid worker who was supposed to visit.

Summer came and Kaylie was home from school, and her mother refused all the resources she had access to. Kaylie lost weight rapidly. On the day Kaylie died, her mother left her body at a babysitter’s house, not realizing Kaylie had already died of the complications of starvation and dehydration, weighing 31 pounds.

Kaylie liked to ride the swings at the park. Her grandmother always got her a birthday cake and she loved the light from the candles. Her grandmother called her “our little butterfly”.

Case status:
Meredith Lis (Mother), pleaded guilty to failure to provide the necessities of life, sentenced to time served plus one day in jail.

Source:
HUNTER: Disabled girl’s death shrouded in shades of grey
Mom who starved disabled daughter gets a day in jail
Oakville woman who allowed 9-year-old daughter to starve to death sentenced to time served
‘Starved to death’: Oakville mother facing jail time after daughter, 9, dies of malnutrition
VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT: Ruth Lalande
VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT: Lisa Lynn and Phillip Lalande

Abbie Speir

Name: Abbie Diana Speir.
Died: April 20, 2017.
Age at death: 33.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Yellow Grass, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Disability: Epilepsy.

Details:
Soon after she tried to leave him, Abbie’s partner stabbed her to death and set the house on fire.

Abbie was a playful lover of parties, especially community fundraisers, and was often seen wearing her trademark high heels and animal print.

Case Status:
Kevin Obinna Okafor (Partner), convicted of second-degree murder, sentenced to 16 years to life.

Sources:
Abbie’s story: How intimate partner violence affects those left behind
Remembering the life of Abbie SPEIR 1983 – 2017
Yellow Grass, Sask. man sentenced to life in prison for killing of Abbie Speir | Globalnews.ca
Family still haunted by violent last moments of slain Yellow Grass mother as killer sentenced

Jocelyne Lizotte

Photo of Jocelyne Lizotte, a middle-aged woman with graying light-brown hair cut to chin length. She is leaning her head against her hand, smiling, and wearing a flower-print shirt. Name: Jocelyne Lizotte.
Died: February 20, 2017.
Age at death: 60.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Disability: Alzheimer’s disease, mobility impairment (Wheelchair user).

Details:
Jocelyne’s husband had applied for her to have euthanasia. However, because she had dementia and was not competent to make that decision, they were denied. Undeterred, Jocelyne’s husband killed Jocelyne–who was claustrophobic–by smothering her with a pillow.

Case status:
Michael Cadotte (Husband), convicted of manslaughter, sentenced to two years less a day in prison, three years of probation and 240 hours of community service; arrested for violating parole.

Source:
Michel Cadotte faces new charge while serving manslaughter sentence
Man who killed his Alzheimer’s-stricken wife is back in prison
Montreal man who killed wife in late stages of Alzheimer’s gets parole
Cadotte won’t appeal sentence in death of wife with Alzheimer’s
Judge hears from families at Michel Cadotte sentencing arguments
Sentencing man who killed wife with Alzheimer’s will be a challenge, judge admits
Victim’s sons tell court that killing of ailing mother was no act of compassion
Jocelyne Lizotte’s sons tell court killing of their ailing mother was no act of compassion
‘She died in dignity,’ man accused of killing his ailing wife tells bail hearing
Alleged murder of woman with Alzheimer’s leads to demand for more euthanasia
Man Kills His Wife Because They Were Refused an Assisted Suicide
BioEdge: Should Quebec’s Alzheimer’s patients be eligible for euthanasia?
Slaying of nursing-home patient renews questions about medical assistance in dying
Death of dementia patient revives debate over assisted suicide
Renewed calls to review assisted death rules after Montreal man charged with murdering wife
Man charged with nursing home murder made cryptic Facebook post
Man arrested in death of woman at seniors’ residence
‘No murder in empathy and compassion,’ Michel Cadotte’s lawyer argues
Suspect in controversial murder of Alzheimer’s patient seeks bail
Montreal man accused in death of wife with Alzheimer’s disease granted bail
A murder case over assisted dying divides Quebec
Man charged in death of woman with Alzheimer’s will stand trial
Jury selection begins Monday in trial of man accused of killing ailing wife
Crown outlines case against Quebec man charged with suffocating ailing wife
Orderly testifies victim in Alzheimer’s slaying required constant care
Accused in slaying of wife at long-term care centre told nurse he was responsible
Murder trial hears that woman with Alzheimer’s was not at end of life
Michel Cadotte caressed his wife’s hair and kissed her before arrest
Crown closes its evidence in Michel Cadotte murder case
Man on trial for killing wife with Alzheimer’s was ‘pushed beyond his limits,’ defence says
‘I loved her’: Montreal man on trial for murder of ailing wife testifies about her death
Montreal man charged with ailing wife’s death recounts how he smothered her /A>
‘Suffering too much’: Montreal man admits to smothering ailing wife with pillow
Expert says man accused of killing ailing wife had disturbed state of mind
Man accused of killing ailing wife wasn’t suffering from major depression: expert
Jurors deliberate in case of Montreal man charged with killing ailing wife
Montreal man found guilty of manslaughter in compassion killing of ailing wife with Alzheimer’s disease
Cadotte case could rekindle compassion killing debate ahead of sentencing

Lydia Whitford

Photo of Lydia Whitford. She is a young woman with fair skin and dark brown hair; she is wearing a turquoise jacket and pink baseball cap. Her mouth is open and her face relaxed in a neutral expression. Name: Lydia Whitford.
Died: July 14, 2016.
Age at death: 18.
Cause of death: Possible homicide; possible natural death after abuse.
Location: Stonewall, Manitoba, Canada.
Disability: Autism, epilepsy.

Details:
Lydia’s death was originally ruled natural, but her mother and sister saw bruises on her body and pushed for an investigation. More than a year later later, Lydia’s foster mother was charged with manslaughter. Exactly how Lydia died has not been released.

Her sister told reporters that “I want people to remember her as the kind and loving person she was.”

Case status:
Lisa Marie Campbell (Foster mother), charged with manslaughter, charges stayed.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Lydia Whitford
Vigil marks birthday of woman with autism who died in CFS care
Family wants answers in homicide of teen living in licensed foster home
Family of woman with autism found dead in foster home seeks answers
Family plans birthday vigil for Manitoba teen with autism killed in foster care
Family seeks answers after teen’s death in foster care deemed a homicide
Homicide victim’s family asks how woman with autism died in CFS care
Killing of teen with autism in foster care to be investigated by Manitoba’s children’s advocate
Foster mother charged in death of autistic woman, 18
Woman charged with manslaughter in death of disabled woman
Winnipeg woman charged in death of teen with autism
Foster mom charged in 2016 homicide of teen with autism, family says
Winnipeg woman arrested following homicide in July 2016: RCMP
Family of teen with autism looking for closure after Crown stays manslaughter charge against foster mother