Remembering the Disabled Murdered by Caregivers
Name: Bertha Coombes.
Died: January 19, 2016.
Age at death: 83.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Petaluma, California, USA.
Disability: Mobility impairment; wheelchair user, after “a series of falls”.
Details:
Bertha was shot dead by her husband in a murder-suicide.
Case status:
Harold Coombes (Husband), deceased.
Source:
Police determine east Petaluma deaths murder-suicide
Petaluma couple’s violent deaths a contrast with long, loving relationship
Name: Phillip Ray Maynard.
Died: January 14, 2016.
Age at death: 71.
Cause of death: Starvation, dehydration, untended bedsores.
Location: Forest Park, Georgia, USA.
Disability: Unspecified; mobility impaired.
Details:
Phillip’s wife allegedly did not care for him; she often left him for two or three days at a time, even though he could not get out of bed on his own. Weakened by starvation, dehydration, and untreated bedsores, Phillip died.
Case status:
Cheryl Maynard (Wife), charged with elder neglect.
Source:
Clayton woman charged with elder neglect after bedridden husband dies
Phillip Ray Maynard (1944-2016) – Find A Grave.
Name: Irene Carter.
Died: January 13, 2016.
Age at death: 78.
Cause of death: Traumatic injury.
Location: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.
Disability: Schizophrenia.
Details:
Irene loved gardening and kept an immaculate yard.
When Irene had a psychotic episode, her daughter took over power of attorney and gradually took away her freedom, selling her cars and taking her bank cards. When her daughter remortgaged her house and Irene protested, her daughter stabbed her, slammed her head against the floor, and threw her down the stairs, killing her.
Case status:
Lisa Freihaut (Adoptive daughter), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, sentenced to 11 years to life.
Source:
Gambling addict who stabbed elderly mother to death in dispute over money pleads guilty to murder
Calgary woman who begged for information on her mom’s killing pleads guilty to her murder
Lisa Freihaut Charged With Stabbing Death Of Her Mother Irene Carter
CARTER Irene › Gone But Not Forgotten
Name: Holly A. Lozon.
Died: January 13, 2016.
Age at death: 57.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Rainville Township, Michigan, USA.
Disability: Paraplegic, from surgery to remove bone spurs.
Details:
Holly was shot dead by her husband in a murder-suicide. He also killed their dog.
Holly was an animal-lover who especially enjoyed horseback riding.
Case status:
Gerald Lozon (Husband), deceased.
Source:
Tragedy beset Monroe Co. couple found dead in home
Obituary: Holly A. Lozon
Name: Dwight Carrington Ridley Sr.
Died: January 11, 2016.
Age at death: 59.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Carson, Virginia, USA.
Disability: Unspecified; wheelchair user.
Details:
Dwight was stabbed to death by his nephew over a property dispute about the family farm.
He was an Army veteran who had three children and twelve grandchildren.
Case status:
Daryl Ridley (Nephew), charged with second-degree murder, found incompetent to stand trial.
Source:
Mental Health and Murder: Why man with ’emotional demons’ walked free
Obituary for Dwight Carrington Ridley, Sr. – PETERSBURG, VA
Why man accused of killing uncle over family farm won’t stand trial
Stabbing victim arrives at hospital, later deemed homicide suspect in Dinwiddie County
Arrest made in fatal Dinwiddie homicide, stabbing
Name: Harmony Carsey.
Died: January 8, 2016.
Age at death: 2.
Cause of death: Brain hemorrhage.
Location: New Straitsville, Ohio, USA.
Disability: Undiagnosed mental illness or developmental disability (Head-banging; atypical behavior).
Details:
Crystal’s autopsy report stated that she died of a brain hemorrhage, and that she was underweight and dehydrated. Her mother denied abusing her, and said instead that Harmony had “mental health problems” and hurt herself by banging her head.
Case status:
Crystal Reed (mother), pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter, sentenced to 9 years.
Source:
Ohio Toddler’s Tragic Death Need Not Be in Vain if Ohio Courts Seize the Opportunity to Hold Reckless Child Protection Agency Accountable for its Role in the Child’s Abuse and Murder
Mom gets nine-year sentence for daughter’s death
Family seeks answers in 2-year-old’s death
Name Unknown.
Died: Undated; article published January 6, 2016.
Age at death: Newborn, less than 6 days old.
Cause of death: Burned alive, following Yanomami tradition.
Location: Caracaraí, Brazil.
Disability: “a malformation in his leg”.
Details:
Quote: When a 21-year-old indigenous woman gave birth to her fourth son in this small settlement in northern Brazil, she noticed that the newborn was suffering from a malformation in his leg. She knew what that meant, but still consulted with the leaders of her Yanomami tribe in a desperate hope for an exception.
It was not to be: the baby was burned alive as part of a ritual, and the ashes were used to prepare a sort of gruel that was offered to all members of the tribe. Though the mother shared her grief with her immediate family, she said she understood that this was the tradition.
Case status:
His mother and tribe were not prosecuted.
Source:
In Brazil, Activists Defend Infanticide Among Indigenous Tribes
Name: Sophia Rose Mahaffey.
Died: January 5, 2016.
Age at death: 19 months.
Cause of death: Homicide.
Location: Cottonwood Heights, Utah, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy due to prematurity.
Details:
Sophia was allegedly beaten to death by her mother’s boyfriend.
Case status:
Jake Don Jensen (Mother’s boyfriend), charged with child abuse and child abuse homicide.
Source:
Cottonwood Heights man accused of abusing, killing wife’s infant daughter
Man charged in 2016 death of disabled 19-month-old girl – Story
Cottonwood Heights man charged with abusing and killing girlfriend’s daughter
Man Charged With Killing Disabled Toddler Before Marrying Her Mother
Utah man accused of abuse in 19-month-old girl’s death appears in court
Utah man, 29, is charged with killing girlfriend’s disabled daughter