Mx. Daxer – Page 2 – Disability Day of Mourning

Benjamin Murphy

Name: Benjamin David Murphy.
Died: March 6, 2025.
Age at death: 33.
Cause of death: Abuse, medical neglect.
Location: Scappoose, Oregon, USA.
Disability: Autism, wheelchair user.

Details:
Benjamin’s death was reported to the police three days after the fact. Upon investigating, police arrested his mother and sibling; court documents stated that his death was “in the course of or as a result of intentional torture” and “by neglect and maltreatment consisting of neglect of medically necessary services,” but did not elaborate further.

Case Status:
Katherine Raina (Mother), charged with first-degree murder, murder by abuse, criminally negligent homicide, criminal mistreatment, and abuse of a corpse.
Hillary Murphy (Sibling), charged with first-degree murder, murder by abuse, criminally negligent homicide, criminal mistreatment, and abuse of a corpse.

Sources:
Mother and daughter arrested in Scappoose for murder and abuse of family member
Scappoose duo faces murder charges after man’s death of ‘neglect and maltreatment’
Mom, sibling accused of murdering family member in Scappoose denied bail

Yashasvi Pawar

No Photo Name: Yashasvi Pawar.
Died: February 20, 2025.
Age at death: 17.
Cause of death: Poisoned.
Location: Naupada, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Disability: Congenital disability; mobility impaired, nonspeaking.

Details:
Police believe that Yashasvi’s mother, frustrated because Yashasvi’s recent illness caused her to cry out in pain through the night, poisoned her with medication. Yashasvi’s mother, grandmother, and a family friend were captured on CCTV carrying her body into a car, intending to take it to be cremated. All three have been charged with murder.

Case Status:
Snehal Pawar (Mother), charged with murder; at large/wanted.
Surekha Mahangade (Grandmother), arrested on suspicion of murder.
An unidentified family friend, charged with murder; at large/wanted.

Sources:
Woman poisons differently abled, bedridden daughter to death in Naupada

LaVonne Hoff

Name: LaVonne Hoff.
Died: February 3, 2025.
Age at death: 76.
Cause of death: Blood loss.
Location: Colorado City, Colorado, USA.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Medics who were called to LaVonne’s house found her unresponsive and badly injured, the victim of a dog attack; she was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. Investigators searched the house and found 54 neglected dogs and seven birds, who had all been living crammed together in severely unsanitary conditions.

Police arrested LaVonne’s daughter, who allegedly neglected the animals and left her mother to fend for herself while she went out, even though LaVonne had severe dementia and needed someone with her around the clock.

Case Status:
Jessica Hoff (Daughter), charged with felony negligence and animal cruelty.

Sources:
Daughter Arrested After Mom, Who Has Dementia, Is Mauled To Death By 54 Dogs
Woman arrested after mother with dementia mauled to death by dogs
Colorado woman charged after mother found mauled to death among dozens of dogs
Daughter arrested after mother with dementia is mauled to death in home with 54 dogs
Cause of Death Revealed for Woman with Dementia Who Was Attacked by Dozens of Dogs In Her Home

Melony Granados

No Photo Name: Melony Granados.
Died: January 23, 2025.
Age at death: 13.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Tempe, Arizona, USA.
Disability: Myoclonic atonic epilepsy, intellectual disability.

Details:
Medics responded to Melony’s house to find her unresponsive, covered in bruises and sores. Her grandmother told the doctors that Melony had fallen down the stairs. Melony was taken to the hospital but died the next morning.

Further investigation revealed a makeshift cage made from a bunk bed. Police say her family admitted to keeping Melony in the cage, which was extremely dirty.

Case Status:
Virginia Lujan (Grandmother), charged with felony child abuse.
Jami Hodges (Mother), charged with felony child abuse.

Sources:
Grandmother Charged In Disabled Teen’s Death After 13-Year-Old Was Kept In A Cage
Mother, grandmother arrested in connection to death of 13-year-old girl
Teen with mental age of toddler dies after being forced to live in cage
Grandmother Charged In Disabled Teen’s Death After 13-Year-Old Was Kept In A Cage
Tempe 13-year-old dead after being found in cage; grandmother suspected in death
Police probe caged Tempe teen’s death

Helen Witter

Name: Helen Kay Witter.
Died: January 17, 2025.
Age at death: 80.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Lombard, Illinois, USA.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Helen died from a gunshot; police say her husband called 911, admitting to having shot his wife, and was arrested. Her husband’s lawyer is arguing that Helen’s husband shot her because her dementia made her irritable.

As a young woman, Helen was a business secretary; then she became a homemaker to raise her four children. She is survived by seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Case Status:
Charles Witter (Husband), charged with murder.

Sources:
Lombard man accused of murdering wife says he ‘went nuts’
Helen Witter Obituary (1944 – 2025) – Evansville, IL
81-year-old husband accused of shooting his wife to death in their bed

Anupriya Kumar

No Photo Name: Anupriya Kumar.
Died: January 6, 2025.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Poisoned.
Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Anupriya’s parents fatally poisoned her and her two-year-old brother, Priyansh; then they died by suicide. Authorities believe that the killings had to do with their father’s recent failed business venture and Anupriya’s autism.

Case Status:
Anup Kumar (Father) and Rakhi Kumar (Mother) are deceased.

Sources:
Family found dead in Bengaluru: police suspect land dispute and daughter’s disability as reasons
Techie, wife and minor children found dead at home in Bengaluru
Bengaluru Techie, Wife Kill Their Children, Then Die By Suicide
Did daughter’s health, non-starter venture in UP led Bengaluru couple to murder-suicide pact
Bengaluru techie and wife poison two kids before committing suicide

Diane Glaski

No Photo Name: Diane Glaski.
Died: January 6, 2025.
Age at death: 72.
Cause of death: Unspecified.
Location: Boynton Beach, Florida, USA.
Disability: Unspecified; nursing home resident.

Details:
Diane was killed by her husband in a homicide-suicide.

Case Status:
Richard Glaski (Husband), deceased.

Sources:
Murder-Suicide In West Boynton Nursing Home, PBSO Investigating
Murder-Suicide Under Investigation at Boynton Beach Assisted Living Facility
Diane Glaski – View Obituary & Service Information

Jayden Dixon

No Photo Name: Jayden Dixon.
Died: January 5, 2025.
Age at death: 11.
Cause of death: Smothered.
Location: Meridian, California, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
When Jayden wasn’t seen outside for several days and his trailer was eerily quiet, his neighbors grew worried. One of them approached Jayden’s mother, who argued with the neighbor. The trailer park manager saw them and called the police because Jayden’s mother appeared intoxicated. Police responding to the disturbance found Jayden’s body in the trailer; he had been suffocated, and their three dogs were also dead.

Jayden was good friends with a neighbor’s child; both were autistic, so they understood each other very well. Jayden was known for giving hugs to his friends.

Case Status:
Meagan Dixon (Mother), charged with murder, child abuse resulting in great bodily injury, and three counts related to cruelty toward animals.

Sources:
Homicide investigation at Lovey’s Landing in Sutter County: New details emerge
Meridian mother accused of killing 11-year-old son
Police Say Calif. Mom Was Causing Disturbance. Then They Found Boy, 11, and 3 Dogs Dead
No plea is entered in death of child, 11

Caterina Whitten

Name: Caterina Whitten.
Died: January 3, 2025.
Age at death: 29.
Cause of death: Unspecified neglect.
Location: Lowell, Arkansas, USA.
Disability: Fraser syndrome; blind, autism.

Details:
Caterina was found dead in a filthy home.

One of six adopted siblings, Caterina was born in Russia. As a child, she loved swimming and playing on her swing set. Her five siblings, who had also allegedly been neglected, were rescued when her father was arrested after Caterina’s death.

Case Status:
David Whitten (adoptive father), charged with negligent homicide and six counts of endangering the welfare of an incompetent person.

Sources:
Arkansas police arrest 72-year-old man for negligent homicide in disabled daughter’s death
Lowell man accused of negligent homicide, endangering welfare
Lowell man faces negligent homicide charge after death of disabled daughter
‘A really sad story’: Neighbors react to tragic death of Lowell woman
Horrifying way disabled woman died in Ozarks house of horrors she shared with ‘dad’ and 5 handicapped siblings

Jijesh Vijayan

Name: Jijesh Vijayan.
Died: December 27, 2024.
Age at death: 28.
Cause of death: Poisoned.
Location: Kozhikode, Kerala, India.
Disability: Intellectual disability, bedridden.

Details:
Jijesh’s neighbors found him and his father in critical condition. They were rushed to the hospital, but both died from poisoning. Authorities believe that Jijesh’s father poisoned him and then ingested some of the poison himself.

Case Status:
Manichirakkal NM Vijayan (Father) is deceased.

Sources:
Wayanad DCC treasurer, son die after ingesting poison
Bathery DySP to lead special team formed to probe Wayanad DCC treasurer, son’s death