Location: USA – Page 53 – Disability Day of Mourning

Pamela Kruspe

Photo of Pamela Kruspe, an older woman with fair skin and brown hair. She is wearing glasses and a striped shirt; she is smiling at the camera. Name: Pamela Kruspe.
Died: March 27, 2017.
Age at death: 61.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Boynton Beach, Florida, USA.
Disability: Dementia, depression, anxiety.

Details:
Pamela’s husband allegedly went to the assisted living center where she lived and shot her in the chest, killing her.

Pamela was the mother of three children. She was a marathon runner who also enjoyed cycling, and did volunteer work at a museum.

Case status:
Stephen Kruspe (Husband), pleaded guilty to manslaughter, sentenced to 20 years.

Source:
For a Florida Marine who killed his wife, a life sentence or leniency?
Mercy or murder? Marine vet who assisted ailing wife’s suicide pleads guilty to manslaughter
‘They adored each other’: Should court free caregiver who killed wife with dementia?
Lake Worth husband not using ‘mercy killing’ defense in murder trial of wife with Alzheimer’s
She was ‘beyond help:’ Man speaks after he allegedly mercy killed his wife
Florida murder suspect claims wife asked him to kill her — to spare her from dementia
New details in fatal Boynton shooting of woman with dementia
Fla. husband says he killed wife because she wanted to die
Florida Murder Suspect Claims Wife Asked Him to Kill Her — to Spare Her from Dementia
Stephen Kruspe: I killed my wife suffering from dementia cause she wanted to die
Husband Watched His Wife Disappear from Dementia Until She Spoke Six Words That Made Him Grab a Gun

Noah Campbell

Photo of Noah Campbell, an African-American boy wearing glasses and a flannel shirt. His black hair is cut short and he is smiling. Name: Noah Campbell.
Died: March 24, 2017.
Age at death: 8.
Cause of death: Carbon monoxide poisoning.
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.
Disability: Spinal muscular atrophy.

Details:
Noah’s mother left him alone at home with his abusive father, and while she was gone, Noah’s father poisoned him with carbon monoxide from the family car. While Noah died, his father sat in the car, drinking and doing drugs, with the engine running and the door to the house open. The carbon monoxide seeped into the room where his father had left him, and Noah died of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Case status:
Noel Cruz (Father), convicted of second-degree murder and possession of methamphetamines; sentenced to 20 years.
Zaneta Campbell (Mother), convicted of child abuse, sentenced to 5 years and released after 1 year.

Source:
Oklahoma father charged in son’s carbon monoxide death
Oklahoma couple arrested following 8-year-old’s carbon monoxide death
Tulsa parents charged in disabled child’s death after carbon monoxide poisoning
Tulsa man charged in son’s carbon monoxide death
Father charged with murder in carbon monoxide death of disabled son
Parents To Stand Trial In CO Death Of Disabled Tulsa Boy
Tulsa Parents Set For Trial In Disabled Son’s Death
Jury finds Tulsa man guilty of killing disabled son with carbon monoxide
Tulsa Father Convicted In Disabled Son’s Carbon Monoxide Death

Judson Duncan

Name: Judson Cash Duncan.
Died: March 19, 2017.
Age at death: 21.
Cause of death: Auto accident.
Location: Antlers, Oklahoma, USA.
Disability: Unspecified.

Details:
Judson’s father put him in the car and led the police in a high-speed chase. He crashed the car, killing Judson. It is unknown whether the wreck was an accident, but since Judson died because his father endangered him during the course of the commission of a crime, his father was charged with felony murder.

Case status:
Carl Duncan (Father), pleaded guilty to felony murder, sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Source:
Judson Cash Duncan – View Obituary & Service Information
Okla man to serve 30 years in prison for killing son
Oklahoma man sentenced to prison for murder after disabled son dies in car crash
Fatal wreck may not have been an accident, Denison Police say
Judson Duncan Obituary – Antlers, Oklahoma
Man pleads guilty to murder in son’s death

Troymaine Johnson

Name: Troymaine Deanthonies Johnson.
Died: March 17, 2017.
Age at death: 33.
Cause of death: Hypothermia.
Location: Fort Valley, Georgia, USA.
Disability: Paraplegic.

Details:
Troymaine’s ex-girlfriend picked him up in her car, leaving his wheelchair behind, then abandoned him in the woods. He was found dead from hypothermia four days later.

Troymaine had a passion for rap music.

Case status:
Ruby Kate Coursey (Ex-girlfriend), pleaded guilty to felony murder, sentenced to life without parole.

Source:
Woman Accused Of Killing Paraplegic Ex-Boyfriend By ‘Cruelly’ Dumping Him In Forest
Woman accused of pushing paraplegic man out of her car, letting him die in woods
Authorities say woman left paraplegic Fort Valley man in woods to die
Fort Valley parapalegic man found dead in woods
Troymaine Johnson Obituary – Macon, GA
Family remembers paraplegic man as a talented rapper and loving soul
Body of Fort Valley man found in Upson County hunting camp
Body found at Upson deer camp
Troymaine Deanthonies Johnson (1983 – 2017)
Woman left paraplegic ex-boyfriend to die in cold, police say
Cops: Georgia woman left paraplegic ex-boyfriend in woods to die
Ruby Kate Coursey: How I left my paraplegic ex boyfriend to die in the cold
Georgia Woman Allegedly Kills Paraplegic Ex-Boyfriend By Stranding Him in the Woods
Woman pleads guilty in murder of paraplegic Fort Valley man left in woods
Woman pleads guilty to felony murder in death of paraplegic Fort Valley man

Jaylynn Keith

Photo of Jaylynn Keith, a young woman with light skin, brown eyes, and wavy blonde hair. Her light makeup is carefully applied and she is wearing a blue-and-white top. The photo is somewhat overexposed and taken from close-up, probably a selfie. Name: Jaylynn Amanda Keith.
Died: March 15, 2017.
Age at death: 27.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Palm Springs, California, USA.
Disability: Depression, interstitial cystitis.

Details:
Jaylynn was being treated for depression when her boyfriend shot her. He tried to disguise the death as a suicide, claiming she had shot herself; but the evidence didn’t add up, and police arrested him for murder. Jaylynn had been planning on leaving him, fearing for her safety, when he killed her.

Case status:
James Beushausen (Boyfriend), convicted of first-degree murder, sentenced to 50 years to life.

Source:
People v. Beushausen, E071434 | Casetext Search + Citator
‘I knew it was him,’ says friend of Palm Springs murder victim about man’s arrest
Brother of man accused of killing girlfriend in Palm Springs speaks out

Amber Perry

Name: Amber Perry.
Died: March 7, 2017.
Age at death: 6.
Cause of death: Diabetic ketoacidosis.
Location: Crandon, Wisconsin, USA.
Disability: Juvenile diabetes.

Details:
Amber died of diabetic ketoacidosis. Medical examiners determined that treatment for her diabetes had been withheld for a long period of time, and that her death had been a homicide.

Case status:
Amber’s death has been ruled a homicide due to medical neglect, but no one has yet been charged.

Source:
6-year-old Crandon girl died of complications from diabetes
Report: Crandon girl, 6, died of complications from diabetes
Forest Co. Child’s Death Ruled Homicide
Forest County six-year-old’s death ruled a homicide
DA: Multiple people could be charged in kindergartner’s death

Maria Stiles

No Photo Name: Maria L. Stiles.
Died: March 6, 2017.
Age at death: 90.
Cause of death: Sepsis.
Location: Godfrey, Illinois, USA.
Disability: Disabled elder.

Details:
Maria was left in a tarp hammock in filthy surroundings; she died of infected bedsores. She had been discharged back to her son by a nursing home that suspected she was being neglected.

Case status:
Larry D. Parker (Son), charged with abuse or neglect of an elder resulting in death.

Source:
Suit alleges nursing home’s negligence caused patient’s death
Suit: Woman found with infected sores in rigged tarp hammock went ignored, son faces criminal charges

Jhalandia Butler

Photo of Jhalandia Butler, a young woman with long dark-brown hair and tan skin, wearing a red tank top. Name: Jhalandia Elaine Butler.
Died: March 5, 2017.
Age at death: 28.
Cause of death: Stab wounds.
Location: Crofton, Maryland, USA.
Disability: PTSD, bipolar disorder (claimed by killer).

Details:
Jhalandia’s boyfriend was abusive and had already been charged with assault once for choking and punching her. He murdered Jhalandia by stabbing her to death.

Jhalandia was a US Army veteran who had served for six years and two tours of duty in Iraq. She had met her boyfriend while they were both being treated for PTSD at a military hospital.

Case status:
Ryan Hollebon (Boyfriend), pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, sentenced to life without parole.

Source:
Iraq war veteran gets life in prison for Crofton murder of girlfriend
Jhalandia Elaine Butler, 28
Crofton veteran who pleaded to killing girlfriend appeals life sentence

Ruth Bain

Photo of Ruth Bain, an older woman with pale skin, wearing a red-striped top and pearl earrings. Her hair is short, curly, and nearly white. Name: Ruth Bain.
Died: March 4, 2017.
Age at death: 82.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Denton, Texas, USA.
Disability: Dementia; stroke.

Details:
Ruth was shot by her husband in a murder-suicide.

She liked gardening and doing volunteer work.

Case status:
Joe Bain (Husband), deceased.

Source:
Fearing nursing home, elderly Denton man kills wife before killing himself
Jacquielynn Floyd: Call it desperation, but don’t call it love
Denton Tragedy Highlights Lack of Suicide Support for Texas’ Elderly

Nicholas Dean

Photo of Nicholas Dean, a boy with dark hair and light-brown skin, sitting in a wheelchair in front of an electric keyboard. He is wearing glasses and a striped shirt. Name: Nicholas Dean.
Died: March 1, 2017.
Age at death: 31.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Bakersfield, California, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
Nicholas was drugged, then strangled to death while he was home alone with his adoptive sister and her boyfriend.

He is the second homicide victim in his family. His older brother Jonathan was murdered by their adoptive father in 2014.

Case status:
Nicholas’s death has been ruled a homicide.
Jessica Dean (Adoptive sister), under investigation; possible suspect or witness.
Michael Hernandez (Sister’s boyfriend), under investigation; possible suspect or witness.

Source:
Homicide of disabled man still under review by DA’s office, nearly two years later
Death of disabled man investigated as homicide
Man who took plea deal in alleged murder-for-hire of adopted son has been released from prison
Eyewitness News tip line prompts murder investigation
Homicide claims second brother in troubled adoptive family
The death of a disabled man is being investigated as a homicide
Charges refiled against defendant in Jonathan Dean murder
Homicide of disabled man still under review by DA’s office, nearly two years later