Mx. Daxer – Page 139 – Disability Day of Mourning

Stephanie Owen

Photo of Stephanie Owen and her mother Sharon Hayter. Stephanie is a young woman with long brown hair; her head is thrown back and she is laughing. Sharon is a woman with short brown hair and glasses; she is smiling and hugging Stephanie. Name: Stephanie Owen.
Died: November 28, 2013.
Age at death: 29.
Cause of death: Blunt trauma.
Location: Knowsley, Merseyside, England, UK.
Disability: Intellectual disability; mobility impairment; diabetic.

Details:
Stephanie’s father bludgeoned her and her mother, Sharon Hayter, to death with a claw hammer.

Case status:
William Owen (Father), pleaded guilty to murder, sentenced to 29 years, 90 days in prison.

Source:
Life sentence for doting dad who murdered his wife and disabled daughter at the family home
William Owen jailed for life for murdering daughter and partner
Claw hammer killer agreed bizarre ‘death pact’ with late partner before murdering disabled daughter

Carol French

No Photo Name: Carol French.
Died: November 20, 2013.
Age at death: 73.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Wandsworth, Southwest London, England, UK.
Disability: Stroke.

Details:
When Carol survived a stroke, her husband tried to convince her to move to Switzerland for euthanasia. But Carol wanted to live; she declined to move and was planning her next summer vacation when her husband strangled her and stabbed himself in a murder-suicide.

Carol was a retired women’s magazine editor.

Case status:
Douglas “Harry” Morton (Husband), deceased.

Source:
Husband suspected of killing wife after stroke
Husband murdered wife then stabbed himself through the heart
Coroner says wife was killed unlawfully
Battersea woman died of strangulation and husband died from stab wounds in apparent murder and suicide

Skyler Craighead

No Photo
Name: Skyler Craighead.
Died: November 18, 2013.
Age at death: 5 months.
Cause of death: Starvation/dehydration.
Location: La Vergne, Tennessee, USA.
Disability: DiGeorge syndrome, feeding tube, heart defect.

Details:
Skyler died of starvation and dehydration while in the care of her parents.

Case status:
Sinead Omer (Mother) and Terry Craighead (Father), both charged with aggravated child neglect, felony murder in perpetration of aggravated child neglect, aggravated child abuse and felony murder in perpetration of aggravated child abuse. First trial ended in mistrial; second trial proceeding.

Source:
Sinead Omer, mother accused of killing infant in 2013, faces new child abuse charges
Mother Charged with Starvation Death of Baby in 2013 Accused of Faking Illness in Infant in 2018
La Vergne parents face trial in infant’s starvation death
La Vergne Parents Charged In Baby’s Death Go To Trial

Dameian Gulley

Photo of Dameian Gulley, an adolescent boy with fair skin and curly brown hair, standing in front of some leafy branches. Name: Dameian “Luke” Gulley.
Died: November 18, 2013.
Age at death: 14.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Visalia, California, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Luke’s stepfather strangled him.

His obituary says that he often “volunteered his time at a nursing home in Tulare, CA where he would call out Bingo and paint fingernails.”

Case status:
Miguel Angel Villegas Pacheco (Stepfather), convicted of murder, sentenced to 25 years to life.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Dameian “Luke” Gulley
Tulare County judge sentences Visalia man to 25 years to life for murder of stepson
Dameian Gulley: Obituary
Stepfather arrested in Gulley’s death
‘We knew we had foul play’
Visalia step-father arrested for the murder of 14-year-old Damiean “Luke” Gulley
Stepfather Left Voice Mail Asking for Help
Central California man arrested in stepson’s death

Qyzra Walji

Photo of Qyzra Walji, a young woman with straight brown hair and tan skin, smiling broadly. A wheelchair head rest is visible behind her head. Name: Qyzra Walji.
Died: October 31, 2013.
Age at death: 21.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: London, Ontario, Canada.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
When she was about six years old, Qyzra’s parents immigrated to Canada from Tanzania, so that she could get good education and health care.

She was a bright student whose friends remember her smile fondly; she was always smiling. She liked fashion, pop culture, and boys.

She wrote an article in Girls’ Life about her experiences. You can read it here:
The Story Of A Girl With Cerebral Palsy

When their temporary visas expired and the government of Canada planned to deport them, Qyzra’s father shot her and her mother Shyroz in a murder-suicide.

Case status:
Mohamed Walji (Father), deceased.

Source:
Mohamed Walji killed his wife and severely disabled daughter, then himself, but questions remain
Listening to Qyzra
The Story Of A Girl With Cerebral Palsy
Waljis? relative says Immigration at root of family’s desperation
A building super, his wife and disabled daughter were found dead
London police confirm family of murder-suicide died from gunshot wounds
Police search for motive in tragic murder-suicide death of London, Ontario family | National Post
Triple death was murder-suicide

Shirley Neumann

Photo of Shirley Neumann, an elderly woman with short gray hair and fair, wrinkled skin. She is wearing a white blouse and pearl earrings. Name: Shirley Neumann.
Died: October 31, 2013.
Age at death: 77.
Cause of death: Fall.
Location: Fenton, Missouri, USA.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Shirley Neumann’s death was initially thought to be an accident. Her daughter, who visited her at her retirement home, was the last person to see her alive; when her daughter left, she told staff that Shirley would not be down for dinner. In the morning, Shirley was found dead beneath her broken fourth-floor balcony, having fallen to her death. Her daughter was the beneficiary of her $500,000 life insurance policy.

Shirley’s death was initially ruled an accident, but her daughter is under investigation for two other murders, also of disabled people: Betsy Faria, her friend, whose death was disguised as a suicide and for which Shirley’s daughter is charged with murder; and Lewis Gumpenberger, her ex-boyfriend, in whose shooting death Shirley’s daughter pleaded no contest to murder.

Investigators tested the railing and found that someone of Shirley’s weight should not have been able to break the railing by falling into it. Shirley Neumann’s manner of death has been officially changed from “accidental” to “undetermined”.

Case status:
Pamela Hupp (Daughter); sentenced to life without parole for the murder of Lewis Gumpenberger; charged with the murder of Betsy Faria. The investigation into Shirley’s death was not re-opened.

Source:
‘It’s puzzling’: Pam Hupp waives preliminary hearing in murder trial
In ‘The Thing About Pam,’ We Learn Pam Hupp Is a Killer — Did She Also Murder Her Own Mother?
Shirley Neumann Murder: How Did Pam Hupp’s Mom Die? Who Killed Her?
The Real Truth about Pam Hupp: 3 deaths, 2 questionable investigations, 1 woman at the center
Pam Hupp
In her own words: Pam Hupp on her mother`s fatal fall
Woman, 77, dies after falling from third-floor balcony of Fenton-area retirement home
Shirley Neumann Obituary
Police seek new information on death of Pamela Hupp’s mother
Police reviewing death of Pamela Hupp’s mother
Police reviewing death of Pamela Hupp’s mother
Loved ones of man killed by Pamela Hupp speak out
Pam Hupp could still be collecting government disability checks in jail
Medical examiner changes manner of death for Pamela Hupp’s mother
Mom’s Death Not to Be Discussed at Pamela Hupp’s Trial

Steven Copo-Horton

Name: Steven Copo-Horton.
Died: October 28, 2013.
Age at death: 18.
Cause of death: Drowning.
Location: Emerton, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Disability: Angelman syndrome.

Details:
Steven drowned in the bathtub. Prosecutors say he could not have gotten into the bathtub on his own.

“All [Steven] wanted to do was kiss and cuddle everyone,” his mother remembers.

Case status:
Charbel Younes (Stepfather), charged with murder. After being released on bail, he broke his wife’s arm and shot at his other stepson. Court subsequently denied bail. Acquitted.

Source:
Stepdad acquitted of murder at retrial
Drowned teen couldn’t have got in bath
Charles Younes trial: Man denies murder of disabled stepson in bathtub
Tradie charged with drowning murder of his disabled teenager stepson
Stepfather charged over teen’s bathtub death
‘Concerning history of violence’: Couple split one week before teen found dead in bath
Man charged with murder over 2013 bathtub drowning of teen
Man who drowned disabled stepson ‘broke ex-wife’s arm and shot a gun’

Antonio Brooks

Photo: A young African-American boy wearing a white shirt. He has large brown eyes and a turned-up nose; his hair is very short. Name: Antonio Brooks.
Died: October 28, 2013.
Age at death: 14.
Cause of death: Peritonitis.
Location: Hampton, Virginia, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Antonio’s father kicked him in the stomach, and then neglected to take him to the doctor. Antonio died two days later from his injuries.

Case status:
Anthony Brooks (Father), pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter. Due to be released Sept. 2026.

Source:
Hampton man pleads in autistic son’s death
Father arrested after son’s death ruled a homicide
Documents: Hampton father did not get medical attention for son
Testimony: Hampton boy’s death could have been prevented
Autism Memorial: Antonio Brooks

Martin Meffert

Photo of a man with fair skin and dark-blond hair, wearing a black and white print baseball cap. He has a stubbly beard and mustache. Name: Martin Meffert.
Died: October 24, 2013 (Body found); Missing February 8, 2005.
Age at death: 23.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Terownie, South Australia, Australia.
Disability: Unspecified.

Details:
23-year-old Martin, grieving the death of his mother, arranged to stay with an aunt and some cousins. Then he disappeared.

Eight years later, one of his cousins, who had been collecting Martin’s disability payments, pulled out Martin’s skull and showed it to a friend. This was not reported until a firearms raid found Martin’s bones in plain view in the fireplace of his home. His cousin admitted to shooting Martin in the head and stealing his disability pension for ten years.

Martin loved Bruce Springsteen’s music. He was proud uncle to a baby nephew and awaiting a second nephew when he died.

Case status:
Christopher Travis Scott (Cousin), pleaded guilty to murder, sentenced to life.

Source:
Teen who shot Martin Meffert dead then claimed his Centrelink payments
Martin Meffert murder: Police conduct doorknocks in Terowie, SA
Bones-in-fireplace murder: Sister of Martin Meffert wants to end her family’s torment and get justice
No one had spoken to Martin for years. Then police made a gruesome discovery.
Case against accused cold case murderer labelled ‘weak’
Cold case murder accused remanded in custody
Accused killer pulled skull out of box ‘like a show-and-tell’, court told
Accused Terowie murderer admits to killing relative whose bones were found in fireplace
Killer’s confession leads police to find remains of SA murder victim
Bones of murdered man found at Terowie property
Property searched to find murdered man’s remains

Amoe Stevens

Photo of Amoe Stevens, an older Asian woman with tan skin and short black curly hair, wearing a teal suit. Name: Amoe Seline Stevens.
Died: October 18, 2013.
Age at death: 64.
Cause of death: Internal injuries.
Location: Neasden, London, UK.
Disability: Mobility/speech impairment after stroke.

Details:
Amoe was raped and murdered by her son-in-law.

Case status:
Mohammed Yassin Yusuf (Son-in-law), convicted of murder, sentenced to 25 years to life.

Source:
Remorseless killer jailed for causing an ‘agonising death’
Neasden stroke victim murdered by son-in-law’s violent sex assault
Man who murdered mother-in-law in sexual assault so violent she bled to death jailed for life
Mohammed Yassin Yusuf jailed for killing mother-in-law Amoe Seline Stevens in sexual assault
Man jailed for ‘horrifying’ murder by sexual assault on mother-in-law