George and Gianna Kantanka

Two young African-american children, a girl wearing a pink dress and hair ribbon, and a boy wearing a red Mickey Mouse shirt.Name: George Kantanka.
Name: Gianna Kantanka.

Died: December 18, 2023.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Smothered.
Location: Bronx, New York City, New York, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
With their father away working the night shift, George and Gianna were alone with their mother when she called for an ambulance, saying they were unresponsive. The twins were found dead in their beds. Initially, it seemed they had died of natural causes, but an autopsy concluded they had both been smothered.

Case Status:
Gloria Asamoah (Mother), charged with murder.

Sources:
Mother Is Charged With Murder of Twins Found Dead in the Bronx
Bronx mom indicted for murder in deaths of 5-year-old twin children

Maureen Potter

No PhotoName: Maureen Potter.
Died: December 8, 2023.
Age at death: 80.
Cause of death: Unspecified homicide.
Location: Droitwich, Worcestershire, England, UK.
Disability: Cancer.

Details:
Maureen’s husband allegedly killed her and tried to kill their son, who also has a disability.

Case Status:
Ivan Potter (Husband), charged with murder and attempted murder.

Sources:
Pensioner, 81, being quizzed by police after woman, 80, found dead
Man, 81, arrested after woman, 80, ‘murdered’ with second man in hospital
Suspect aged 81 arrested on suspicion of murder after woman found dead
A town in shock – the latest on the Droitwich murder investigation
Man, 81, charged with attempted murder after police called to medical emergency
Maureen Potter (née Bourne)

Damari Carter

Photo of a small African American boy with short hair, wearing a black sweatshirt.Name: Damari Carter.
Died: December 7, 2023 (Missing, presumed dead).
Age at death: 4.
Cause of death: Missing, presumed dead.
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Nonspeaking; suspected learning disability.

Details:
Neighbors heard Damari screaming; then his mother’s boyfriend was seen dragging a trash bag out of their apartment. Eventually, police asked his mother what had happened, and she said that her boyfriend had beaten Damari, killing him, and then put him in a trash can. Police are still searching for Damari’s body.

Case Status:
Dominique Bailey (Mother), charged with murder and abuse of a corpse.
Kevin Spencer, charged with murder and abuse of a corpse.

Sources:
Mom Claimed 4-Year-Old Was Hit by a Car; Now She & Boyfriend Are Accused of Murdering Him
Police do not believe they will find 4-year-old Damari Carter’s body
‘Damari Was My Heart’: Dad of Pa. Boy, 4, Speaks Out After Boy’s Mom & Her Boyfriend Are Charged with Murder (Exclusive)
Boy’s body remains missing after mom, boyfriend are charged in his murder
West Philadelphia detectives searching dumpsters for body of missing 4-year-old Damari Carter: police sources – CBS Philadelphia

Zayn Matiin

Photo of a small boy wearing a collared shirt and black pants, his black hair cut short and sticking up a little, holding a blue and red backpack. He has tan skin and deep brown eyes.Name: Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiin.
Died: December 6, 2023.
Age at death: 6.
Cause of death: Head and neck injuries.
Location: Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Zayn’s mother reported that he had vanished when they were on the way home from the store. After an intensive search, Zayn’s body was found on the bank of a stream–a location that had already been searched multiple times. Marks on his neck and head led to the conclusion that he had been strangled. Inconsistencies in the statements made by Zayn’s parents led police to arrest them on suspicion of child neglect and murder.

Case Status:
Ismanira Abdul Manaf (Mother), convicted of child neglect.
Zaim Ikhwan Zahari (Father), charged with child neglect, acquitted.

Sources:
Zayn Rayyan case: Mother convicted of neglect following death of autistic son
Malaysian woman jailed 5 years over autistic son’s death due to neglect
Zayn Rayyan’s death classified as suspicious
Police tracking source of video showing mother of murdered boy Zayn Rayyan
At parents’ trial of Zayn Rayyan’s neglect, neighbour testifies never seeing autistic child at Damansara Damai playground before death
Autism stigmas prevent families from seeking help: Murder case of autistic boy spurs call for change
Investigation to continue until perpetrator of Zayn Rayyan’s murder is found
Zayn Rayyan’s parents being treated for depression, says lawyer
Autism stigmas prevent families from seeking help: Murder case of autistic boy spurs call for change
Grandparents of murdered autistic boy in M’sia arrested
Autism Memorial: Zayn Matiin
Parents Arrested, Lawyers Dropped: What’s Going On With The Zayn Rayyan Murder Case?
Zayn Rayyan’s parents remanded for 7 days
Autistic child’s murder in M’sia: Parents arrested » Borneo Bulletin Online
IGP: Give police space and time to investigate Zayn Rayyan’s murder
Zayn Rayyan murder: Extension of parents’ remand depends on probe results, says Selangor top cop
Zayn Rayyan’s murder: Police refute allegations of tardy investigation
Zayn Rayyan case: Bukit Aman won’t stop until murderer is brought to justice
As probe progresses to next stage, IGP says motive for Zayn Rayyan’s murder remains unknown
Police: Zayn Rayyan’s murder case not classified as ‘NFA’ yet
Day 11 of Zayn Rayyan’s murder probe shifts to Idaman Apartment vacant units
No new leads in Zayn Rayyan murder investigation – IGP
Selangor police: Stop commenting on autistic child Zayn Rayyan’s death
Selangor police chief: Autistic six-year-old Zayn Rayyan’s death classified as murder
ZAYN RAYYAN LAID TO REST
Zayn Rayyan’s murder: Chronology from when he first went missing
Cops say autistic boy Zayn Rayyan was murdered
Zayn Rayyan killed elsewhere before body dumped near stream [Updated]
Zayn Rayyan murder: Autopsy shows victim possibly struggled with murderer, says cops

Leon Perkins

No PhotoName: Leon Perkins.
Died: December 1, 2023.
Age at death: 66.
Cause of death: Unspecified homicide.
Location: Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.
Disability: Chronic illness, wheelchair user.

Details:
Leon was found dead at his home, sitting in his wheelchair. His death was ruled a homicide, and a relative who lived with him to care for him was arrested as the primary suspect.

Case Status:
Charles Parker (Relative), arrested.

Sources:
Silver Spring man charged in death of disabled relative

Sreenivasan

No PhotoName: Sreenivasan.
Died: November 29, 2023.
Age at death: 85.
Cause of death: Burns.
Location: Kollam, Kerala, India.
Disability: Heart disease, kidney disease.

Details:
Sreenivasan’s son allegedly doused him in gasoline and set him on fire. His wife, who is also disabled, was unable to help him; but a home nurse ran for help. Unfortunately, Sreenivasan was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. The motive reportedly involved Sreenivasan refusing to give his son money.

Case Status:
Anilkumar (Son), charged with murder and using gasoline to cause grievous harm.

Sources:
Man sets bedridden father ablaze in front of mother in Kerala’s Kollam

Eli Riggan

Photo of a round-faced boy with Down syndrome, wearing a blue shirt and cupcake party hat. He has soft brown hair and fair skin. Name: Eli Ezekiel Riggan.
Died: November 25, 2023.
Age at death: 11.
Cause of death: Pressure sores, sepsis, kidney failure.
Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA.
Disability: Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, epilepsy.

Details:
Emergency services were summoned to Eli’s home on a call for an unresponsive child, but they found him dead. An autopsy report showed that he had been neglected; the medical examiner found multiple pressure sores that had become septic, causing kidney failure and killing Eli.

Case Status:
Ariel Lea Horn (Mother), pleaded guilty to child abuse, sentenced to 7 years.
Charles Jackson McClellan Jr. (Mother’s boyfriend), pleaded guilty to child abuse, sentenced to 3 years.

Sources:
Man, woman sentenced in death of special needs boy in Tucson
Tucson mom, boyfriend arrested in death of disabled boy, 11
Police: Special needs boy dies from neglect in Tucson
Media Release: Child Abuse Homicide Arrest – 900 Block of E. Limberlost Dr.
Gofundme: 11 year old Eli Riggan’s Funeral Expenses

Mahadev

No PhotoName: Mahadev.
Died: November 25, 2023 (Body Found).
Age at death: Unknown.
Cause of death: Unspecified homicide.
Location: Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Disability: Unspecified disability.

Also Killed: Gangarani Das, age 65, Mahadev’s grandmother.

Details:
Mahadev and his grandmother Gangarani Das lived in the same house; her granddaughter and her husband moved in to take care of them. Six months later, the two were nowhere to be found and the couple was questioned. Soon two skeletons, matching Mahadev and Gangarani, were found in the house’s septic tank. Police think that the couple who ostensibly moved in to care for Mahadev and his grandmother were actually planning to claim the house for themselves.

Case Status:
Priyanka Das and Shantanu (Relatives), charged with murder.

Sources:
Skeletons of sr citizen, disabled cousin found
Couple confesses to murders

Aremean Mayo and Michael Willett

No PhotoName: Aremean Mayo.
Age at death: 93.
Disability: Unspecified/Frail elder.

Name: Michael Willett.
Age at death: 69.
Disability: Wheelchair user, Stroke survivor

Died: November 25, 2023 (Bodies Found).
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Denmark, Maine, USA.

Details:
Michael, his partner, and his partner’s grandmother Aremean shared a household, where Michael’s partner cared for them both. Another of Aremean’s grandchildren grew worried when she couldn’t contact them and their caregiver told her she was “tired of taking care of them both”; so she asked for a welfare check. When police knocked on her door, their caregiver told police that Aremean was in the hospital and Michael was in the woods, hunting. But Michael couldn’t have pushed his wheelchair through the woods, and police quickly determined that Aremean was not in the hospital; so they forced their way into the house, where they found that both of them had been stabbed to death.

Case Status:
Tzara Jones (Michael’s partner, Aremean’s granddaughter), charged with murder.

Sources:
Maine woman accused of killing her partner, elderly grandmother to be arraigned
‘Tired of taking care of them’: Maine caretaker accused of killing her partner, grandmother appears in court
‘Took me by surprise:’ Neighbors shocked as Denmark woman charged with killing 2 people in her care

Victoria Pendergraph

No PhotoName: Victoria Pendergraph.
Died: November 24, 2023 (Body found; died November 19).
Age at death: 9.
Cause of death: Drowning.
Location: Westminster, California, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy, non-speaking.

Details:
Victoria’s father, who shared custody with her mother, went to pick her up to spend Thanksgiving together only to find the door locked. Concerned, he requested a welfare check; police found Victoria’s body in the bathtub, where Victoria’s mother had allegedly drowned her several days prior.

Case Status:
Khadiyjah Aliyyah Pendergraph (Mother), charged with murder.

Sources:
Woman arrested at shopping center after officers find 9-year-old daughter dead in home
Body of 9-year-old girl in wheelchair ‘left to rot’ after drowning death, OC DA says; mother charged
Mother charged with murder for allegedly drowning disabled, non-verbal 9-year-old daughter
Woman charged with murder, accused of drowning 9-year-old disabled daughter
Westminster woman charged with killing 9-year-old daughter
California mother charged with murder, accused of drowning 9-year-old disabled daughter