Category: Age: Adult

Age 30-59

Lucie Goudreau

A gravestone for the Langelier family, reading in part, "Lucie Goudreau, nee Langelier, 1959-2012." The inscription is carved onto the base of the headstone, implying that it was an unexpected addition that would not fit onto the main headstone.Name: Lucie Goudreau.
Died: November 27, 2012.
Age at death: 53.
Cause of death: Burning.
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Disability: Multiple sclerosis.

Details:
Lucie was diagnosed with progressive MS in her thirties, and when she eventually needed care, her husband helped her. But he died of cancer, and Lucie’s care was left to her son, who routinely mistreated her.

Lucie’s son took out several life insurance policies on his mother, then lit her bed on fire and left her to die in the blaze, knowing her mobility impairment would keep her from escaping on her own. When asked why he had done it, he said he “needed the money”.

Case Status:
Rene Goudreau (Son), convicted of first-degree murder; granted new trial on appeal; convicted of first-degree murder on second trial; sentenced to life.

Source:
Ottawa man convicted of first-degree murder for a second time in mother’s 2012 death
Man convicted of murder in mother’s arson death wins new trial | Ottawa Citizen
Man lit fire to kill MS-stricken mother: Crown

David Mueller

Photo of a man with graying dark-brown hair and tinted, round-rimmed glasses; he has fair skin. He is wearing a blue dress shirt. His expression is neutral.Name: David Mueller.
Died: November 16, 2012.
Age at death: 52.
Cause of death: Smothered.
Location: Prescott, Arizona, USA.
Disability: ALS.

Details:
David had ALS, which is a degenerative disorder, and was setting his affairs in order in preparation for death. David’s wife began an affair with a man she had asked to help her care for David. Then she and her lover murdered David by smothering him with plastic bags and a pillow to “make [his death] quicker.” The murder may have also been financially motivated, stemming from a disagreement over the recipients of David’s life insurance policy.

Case status:
Cynthia Jane Mueller (Wife), convicted of  first-degree murder, conspiracy, fraud, and unlawful use of power of attorney; sentenced to life without parole.
Charles Todd (Wife’s boyfriend), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, sentenced to 16 years, released after 4 years.

Source:
David Mueller Murder: Where Are Charles Todd and Cynthia Mueller Now?
Man pleads guilty in death of woman’s husband
Murder of David Mueller by wife Cynthia and her lover Charles Todd profiled on ID
Cynthia Mueller trial highlights victim’s financial plan
Prescott woman on trial for killing bed-ridden husband
Prescott Woman Found Guilty In The Death Of Her Husband – KAFF News
Arizona co-defendant in husband murder case sentenced to prison

Hilary Milner

No PhotoName: Hilary Milner.
Died: November 1, 2012.
Age at death: 55
Cause of death: Chest trauma; injury to heart and lungs.
Location: Leeds, England, UK.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Hilary died shortly after being beaten by her husband.

Case status:
Trevor Milner (Husband); assault with bodily harm; 4-month suspended sentence.

Source:
Leeds dementia sufferer died hours after attack by husband
Obituary

Yolanda Reese-Brooks

Photo of Yolanda Brooks, an African-American woman. The photo is very blurry.Name: Yolanda Reese-Brooks.
Died: October 22, 2012.
Age at death: 40.
Cause of death: Obesity and “unspecified injuries”.
Location: Warren, Michigan, USA.
Disability: Injuries from car accident; obesity.

Details:
In 2011, Yolanda had been in a car accident that crushed her pelvis and ruptured her bladder, and was thereafter unable to leave her bed.

Her husband did not keep her clean or care for her, and by the time he called the hospital for help, she was already dying.

Yolanda was the mother of four children, who were two to thirteen years old when she died.

Case status:
Michael Brooks (Husband), pleaded guilty to neglect, sentenced to 2 years probation.

Source:
Man pleads guilty to neglect in death of obese wife
Michigan man charged with abusing his bedridden 400-pound wife and letting her rot in squalor until she died
Michael Brooks, Husband Of Obese Woman Yolanda Reese-Brooks, Avoids Jail Time In Wife’s Death

Deborah Crouch

Photo of Deborah Crouch, a middle-aged woman with light skin and curly dark-brown hair. She is wearing a gold pendant necklace and smiling, showing a gap between her front teeth.Name: Deborah “Debbie” Ann Spain Crouch.
Died: September 15, 2012.
Age at death: 53.
Cause of death: Drowning.
Location: Big Bear Lake, California, USA.
Disability: Unspecified (Wheelchair user); chronic illness.

Details:
Deborah’s husband put her in the car, drove it into the lake, and left her there. Unable to escape the car, Deborah drowned. Her black lab, Onyx, was in the car and died with her. At autopsy it became clear that Deborah had also been beaten.

She was the mother of two sons.

Case status:
Ronald Hitchcock (Husband), convicted of second-degree murder and animal cruelty, sentenced to 15 years to life.

Source:
Big Bear Man Sentenced for Drowning His Disabled Wife and Their Dog
Man sentenced for driving dog, disabled wife into lake
Obituary: Deborah Crouch
Local Woman Identified in Swim Beach Incident
Man Convicted of Second-Degree Murder for Driving Wife, Dog Into Big Bear Lake
Man Arrested After His Girlfriend, Her Dog Found Dead Inside Submerged Vehicle news/local/Murder-Animal-Cruelty-Man-Drives-Dog-Woman-Into-Lake-San-Bernardino-Big-Bear-472147413.html”>Man Convicted After Leaving Wife, Dog to Die in Car in Lake

Shaneca Webber

No PhotoName: Shaneca Webber.
Died: September 5, 2012.
Age at death: 30.
Cause of death: Blunt trauma.
Location: Millington, Tennessee, USA.
Disability: Unspecified.

Details:
Shaneca’s mother allegedly confessed to police that she had hit her daughter in the head with a fire extinguisher.

Case status:
Kathy Webber (Mother); charged with first-degree murder.

Source:
Mother Says She Murdered Disabled Daughter With Fire Extinguisher
Woman found murdered in Millington identified
Mother Heads To Court, Admits to Killing Daughter
Millington Woman Found Murdered

Timothy Brooks

No PhotoName: Timothy James Brooks.
Died: August 8, 2012.
Age at death: 52.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Marlow, Oklahoma, USA.
Disability: Bipolar disorder, Schizophrenia.

Details:
Timothy Brooks owned a ranch and liked to go hunting.

His son allegedly shot him dead, then posed him to make it look like a suicide and collect the life insurance.

The death was initially ruled “undetermined”. Six years later, Timothy’s son was charged with murder.

Case status:
James Kyle Brooks (Son), charged with first-degree murder; trial resulted in hung jury. Retrial scheduled.

Source:
Second Trial Set For Oklahoma Man Accused Of Killing Dad For Life Insurance
Hung jury: Additional details from Brooks case that doesn’t reach verdict | News | duncanbanner.com
Charge: Man killed Marlow dad, tried to make it look like a suicide
Man charged with murdering father: Brooks accused of killing father to collect $500,000 life insurance policy
Timothy James Brooks – View Obituary & Service Information
Newcastle man arrested, accused of killing his father for insurance money

James Thompson

No Photo
Name: James Thompson.
Died: June 12, 2012.
Age at death: 42.
Cause of death: Starvation, medical neglect.
Location: The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA.
Disability: Autism, intellectual disability.

Details:
James was starved to death by his niece. He died with a fractured arm and leg, weighing less than half of the 142 pounds he had weighed two years earlier.

Case status:
Naisia Norman (Niece), convicted of manslaughter, sentenced to 2-6 years in prison.

Source:
Inmate Lookup » NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision
Prosecutors: Woman let uncle starve
Autism Memorial: James Thompson
Niece Accused of Starving Autistic Uncle Worked as Home Health Aide
Bronx Woman Held in the Death of Her Uncle
AUtism Memorial: James Thompson

Ruben Johnson

Photo of Reuben Johnson, a man with light-tan skin. He is wearing sunglasses and a pink and white sweatshirt; his face and head are both clean-shaven. Off to the side of the photo is a young girl with brown hair and light-tan skin.Name: Ruben Johnson.
Died: May 30, 2012.
Age at death: 56.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: San Carlos, California, USA.
Disability: Prostate cancer.

Details:
Soon after his diagnosis of prostate cancer, Ruben Johnson was shot to death by his wife. She also shot their daughter, fourteen-year-old Aaliyah.

Case status:
Regina Renee Johnson (Wife), convicted of two counts of second-degree murder, sentenced to 80 years to life.

Source:
Woman sentenced for murdering her daughter, husband
DA: San Carlos mother ‘ambushed’ and ‘executed’ husband, teenage daughter
Woman Accused of Ambushing Husband and Teen Daughter in Fatal Slayings — Though Defense Says It’s More Complicated
Woman Accused of Fatally Shooting Teen Daughter, Husband, to Stand Trial
Mom: I killed husband after he shot daughter
Woman ordered tried in death of husband, daughter
San Carlos Woman Convicted of Murder for Shooting Daughter, Husband
Mom Convicted of Slaying Daughter, Husband in Double Killing

Perry Jones

Photo of Perry Jones, an adult man in a red sweater; he has brown skin, black hair, and a mustache.Name: Perry Edward Jones.
Died: April 19, 2012.
Age at death: 51.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: Matoaca, Chesterfield County, Virginia, USA.
Disability: “Severely disabled”.

Details:
Perry was strangled by his mother, who also killed his father.

Case status:
Estelle Virginia Jones (Mother); sentenced to 5 years in prison.

Source:
Estelle Virginia JONES