Age: Adult – Page 38 – Disability Day of Mourning

Dominique J.

Name: Dominique J.
Died: February 10, 2010.
Age at death: 47.
Cause of death: Wrists and throat cut.
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Disability: Down syndrome.

Details:
Dominique’s mother was afraid that her daughter would need institutional care; so she cut her daughter’s throat and wrists, killing her.

Dominique’s mother reported that her daughter had been assaulted and molested in an institution when she was younger. Dominique was supposed to go live with a sibling when her mother was no longer able to care for her.

Case Status:
Ronnie J. (Mother), convicted of murder, but not given a custodial sentence.

Source:
Ronnie J. toch veroordeeld
Dode vrouw in woning Korte Marnixkade
‘Moeder moet leven’ met de moord op dochter
Vrouw (84) doodde haar gehandicapte dochter: ‘Mijn Dootje is nu veilig’
Dominique Blank – Moordzaken.com

Clyde Bedford

Name: Clyde Edward “Eddie” Bedford.
Died: December 18, 2009.
Age at death: 57.
Cause of death: Bludgoned.
Location: Kennedale, Texas, USA.
Disability: Wheelchair user.

Details:
Clyde, his daughter Joy, and his granddaughter Jodi were attacked by his son-in-law. Clyde and his granddaughter died from being bludgeoned with a bat, and his daughter was fatally stabbed.

Clyde and his granddaughter Jodi were especially close.

Case Status:
John William Hummel (Son-in-law), convicted of murder, sentenced to death. Executed June 30, 2021.

Source:
What did John Hummel do and how did he die? ID’s Sins of the Father revisits 2009 triple murders
Texas inmate faces execution after killing 3 family members
Kennedale Man Faces Execution After Killing 3 Family Members
Clyde Edward “Zeke” Bedford (1952-2009) – Find A Grave
Texas execution: Man stabbed wife 30+ times, used bat to kill daughter and father-in-law
Texas executes inmate for killing his pregnant wife, father-in-law back in 2009

Betty Anne Gagnon

Photo of Betty Anne Gagnon, a middle-aged woman with short brown hair and light skin; her hair is parted messily and her expression is sad. Name: Betty Anne “BA” Gagnon.
Died: November 20, 2009.
Age at death: 48.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Disability: Intellectual disability.

Details:
BA was beaten and starved by her sister and sister’s husband. Eventually she died from a blow to the head, weighing 65 pounds.

Case status:
Denise Scriven (Sister), convicted of “failing to provide the necessities of life” and sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Michael Scriven (Brother-in-law), convicted of “failing to provide the necessities of life” and sentenced to 20 months in jail.

Source
Betty Anne Gagnon’s caregivers get jail terms in death
Inquiry into mentally disabled woman’s death likely to raise uncomfortable questions
Betty Anne Gagnon death inquiry hears of caregivers’ descent into drugs, depression
Paula Simons: Who killed Betty Anne Gagnon? We may not like the answers
Denise Scriven testifies that break down prevented her from caring for her disabled sister
Woman who served time for death of sister testifies that breakdown prevented her from caring for sibling
Betty Anne Gagnon’s sister testifies about suicide plan, drug use
Fatality inquiry into disabled woman’s death makes 13 recommendations
Report into death of mentally disabled woman in Alberta calls for better programs

Christopher Churchill

No Photo Name: Christopher Justin Churchill (First name sometimes spelled “Christophe”).
Died: September 18, 2009.
Age at death: 33.
Cause of death: Malnutrition.
Location: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA.
Disability: Intellectual disability.

Details:
When Christopher died while in the care of his adoptive sister, weighing only 60 pounds, police could not find enough evidence to tell whether he had been neglected. His death, due to “protein calorie malnutrition”, was listed as natural.

Six years later, however, another sibling was found, alive but malnourished and dehydrated, locked in their sister’s closet. After she was rescued, Christopher’s death investigation was re-opened, but no charges were brought.

Case status:
Candy Lawson (Sister), charged with abuse-related offenses against Christopher’s sister; under investigation for Christopher’s murder; sentenced to 10-20 years in prison for abuse, false imprisonment, and embezzling.

Source:
Candy Lawson trial focuses on tiny closet, brother’s death in Kentucky
Abuse charge leads to new look at malnutrition death
Inside tiny closet where woman kept her disabled sister for seven years
Woman Found Guilty Of Locking Disabled Sister In 4×8 Closet With Just Bucket For 7 Years
Candy Lawson trial focuses on tiny closet, brother’s death in Kentucky
Candy Lawson receives maximum sentence for locking sister in closet
Abuse Charge Against Michigan Woman Leads To New Look At Man’s Malnutrition Death
Michigan Woman Faces Prison For Locking Disabled Sister In Closet For Years
Woman Who Locked Deaf Sister In Room For 7 Years Convicted
Not My Sister’s Keeper: Woman Locks Deaf/Mute Sister In 7′ X 4′ Closet For Years Until Hero Handyman Turns Her In
Mich. abuse charge leads to new look at malnutrition death
Police Searching For Abuse Suspect’s Missing Siblings

David Lauberts

No Photo Name: David Lauberts.
Died: September 15, 2009.
Age at death: 49.
Cause of death: Suspicious death.
Location: Greeley, Denver, Colorado, USA.
Disability: Mental and physical disabilities.

Details:
David’s brother allegedly burned down their home to try to hide David’s death. It is not known exactly how David died.

Case status:
James Thorpe Lauberts (Brother), charged with criminally negligent homicide, arson, and tampering with evidence.

Source:
Greeley man charged in brother’s death
Greeley man offered plea deal in death of developmentally disabled brother

Charles Billis

Photo of Charles Billis, a middle-aged man with brown hair and pale skin, wearing a plaid shirt. Name: Charles Billis.
Died: July 22, 2009.
Age at death: 57.
Cause of death: Automobile collision.
Location: Charleston, Orleans County, Vermont, USA.
Disability: Legally blind.

Details:
Charles’s wife deliberately crashed their car, killing Charles, who was not wearing a seatbelt. She was wearing a seat belt and survived with minor injuries.

Case status:
Christine Billis (Wife), pleaded guilty, sentenced to 7-15 years.

Source:
Murderpedia: Christine Billis
Charles Billis Murder: Where is Christine Billis Now?

Cynthia Burns

No Photo Name: Cynthia Burns.
Died: April 27, 2009.
Age at death: 58.
Cause of death: Pneumonia.
Location: Wylie, Texas, USA.
Disability: Paralysis due to stroke.

Details:
Cynthia’s daughter and son-in-law denied her food and medical care. She died of pneumonia, her body too weak from neglect to survive the illness.

Case status:
Christina Gaines (Daughter), knowingly causing serious bodily injury to a disabled person, 12 years.
Gary Gaines, recklessly causing serious bodily injury to a disabled person, 6 months in jail and community service.

Source:
Wylie woman gets 12 years for mother’s death in ‘extraordinarily terrible’ neglect case
Woman abused disabled mother to the point she ‘resembled a Holocaust victim’ and died

Pamela Hall

Name: Pamela Camille Hall.
Died: April 11, 2009.
Age at death: 59.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Figsboro, Virginia, USA.
Disability: Spinal cord injury.

Details:
Pamela was stabbed to death by her son-in-law.

Case status:
James Cleveland Miller (Son-in-law) pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to 20 years to life.

Source:
Miller pleads guilty to murder in death of his mother-in-law

Mike Tran

No Photo Name: Minh Trung “Mike” Tran.
Died: March 28, 2009.
Age at death: 51.
Cause of death: Suffocated.
Location: Elmwood Park, New Jersey, USA.
Disability: Stroke.

Details:
Mike was home for a visit from his nursing home when his wife suffocated him with a plastic bag.

Before his stroke, he was a stay-at-home dad who cared for the children and the house and cooked very good sauce. But after he became disabled, his wife became abusive and eventually killed him and tried to kill their children, who survived.

Case status:
Jenny Tran (Wife), convicted of aggravated manslaughter, attempted murder, and two counts of child endangerment; sentenced to 34-50 years.

Source:
Archive: Elmwood Park woman gets 50 years in husband’s killing despite pleas from her kids
Archive: Tran acquitted of murder, convicted of aggravated manslaughter, attempted murder
Archive: Attorneys argue over defendant’s sanity in Elmwood Park murder case
Archive: Murder defendant told detectives of events leading to husband’s ‘release’
Archive: Daughter told detective Elmwood Park mother tried to kill her earlier
Archive: Daughter saw ‘monster,’ she says at Elmwood Park mom’s murder trial

Rhonda Casto

Name: Rhonda Casto.
Died: March 16, 2009.
Age at death: 23.
Cause of death: Fall into a ravine.
Location: Columbia River Gorge, Oregon, USA.
Disability: Depression.

Details:
Rhonda’s boyfriend increased her life insurance; some months later, he took her on a hike, where she died from a fall into a ravine. He told police that she must have jumped into the ravine because she had depression; but Rhonda’s family say that even though she was on antidepressant and antianxiety medication, she would never have committed suicide.

Case Status:
Steve Nichols (Boyfriend), pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide and coercion, sentenced to 3 years probation. Murder charges were dropped in favor of a plea bargain because mistakes by investigators cast doubt on the state’s case.

Sources:
Rhonda Casto’s Family and Friends Discuss Her Fatal Fall
Man pleads to homicide in girlfriend’s death along Eagle Creek trail
Investigating the death of Rhonda Casto