Category: Age: Adult

Age 30-59

Bernadette, Lisa, and Matthew Steadman

Name: Bernadette A. Steadman.
Age at death: 92.
Disability: Chronic illness; wheelchair user. 

Name: Lisa B. Steadman.
Age at death: 60.
Disability: Chronic illness.

Name: Matthew Steadman.
Age at death: 34.
Disability: Autism.

Died: October 15, 2022.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Elyria, Ohio, USA.

Details:
After a man called 911, saying he had killed his family and was going to kill himself, police responded to his address and found the whole family shot dead. Matthew, the youngest at 34, was autistic; his mother Lisa, 60, and grandmother Bernadette, had chronic illness. They had all been killed by their caregiver, who died by suicide before police arrived.

The family lived in a quiet mobile home park, well-liked by their neighbors, one of whom says she used to call Bernadette “Grandma”. The family had recently added a ramp to their home so that Bernadette and Lisa could maneuver in and out of the home more easily.

Case Status:
James Steadman (Son/Husband/Father), deceased.

 Photo of an elderly woman with wispy white chin-length hair and pale skin.
Photo of a middle-aged woman with brown hair growing out into gray roots, wearing glasses; she has pale skin, and is smiling for the camera.
Portrait photo of a young man smiling for the camera; he has curly brown hair and is wearing glasses.

Sources:
‘I’m in shock’: Police release identities, details in the murder-suicide of Elyria family
Family of 4 found dead in Elyria home after apparent murder-suicide – cleveland.com
Elyria police identify victims of murder-suicide
Autism Memorial: Matthew Steadman

Shanice Watts

No PhotoName: Shanice Nicole Watts.
Died: October 5, 2022.
Age at death: 34.
Cause of death: Unspecified.
Location: Laurel, Mississippi, USA.
Disability: Unspecified special needs.

Details:
Shanice’s body was found in her home; she had been dead for six months or more. Her mother was arrested and charged with murder.

Case Status:
Phyllis Watts-Tiller (Mother), charged with murder.

Sources:
Body ID’d as murder suspect’s daughter
Woman’s body found in Laurel identified, mother charged with murder
Police: Victim found in Mississippi house more than six months after she died has been identified. Mother charged with her murder.

Andreas Huertas

No PhotoName: Andreas Huertas.
Died: September 25, 2022.
Age at death: 37.
Cause of death: Blunt trauma; beating.
Location: Bronx, New York, New York, USA.
Disability: Diabetes; received disability assistance.

Details:
Andreas, who lived with his boyfriend, was beaten to death in his own apartment, possibly with a hammer. His boyfriend was arrested on suspicion of murder.

Neighbors remember him as a “good community man”–kind, helpful, and willing to pitch in to keep their building clean.

Case Status:
Felix Perez (Boyfriend), charged with murder, manslaughter, and criminal possession of a weapon.

Sources:
Bronx man allegedly kills partner with hammer, said it felt ‘like a dream’
Bronx man found dead in his NYCHA apartment; fatal beating suspected
Boyfriend of man beaten to death in NYCHA apartment arrested for his murder

Sandeep

No PhotoName: Sandeep.
Died: September 24, 2022.
Age at death: 47.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Vettoor, Kerala, India.
Disability: Epilepsy, bedridden.

Details:
Sandeep’s brother came home and allegedly stabbed him as he lay sleeping in bed. A nurse caring for Sandeep heard the commotion and took Sandeep to the hospital; but his injuries were not survivable. Police say Sandeep’s brother confessed, explaining that he had killed his brother because he could not take care of him.

Sandeep worked at Indian Railways.

Case Status:
Santhosh (Brother), charged with murder.

Sources:
Drunk vet murders bedridden younger brother in Kerala; claims couldn’t take care of him
Doctor stabs brother to death in Varkala

Jonathan Runion

No PhotoName: Jonathan Runion.
Died: September 12, 2022.
Age at death: 48.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Boone County, West Virginia, USA.
Disability: Unspecified; bedridden.

Details:
Jonathan was shot by his mother in a murder-suicide.

Case Status:
Tammy Runion (Mother), deceased.

Sources:
West Virginia mother allegedly fatally shoots 48-year-old bedridden son and self
Victims identified in Boone County murder-suicide
Deputies | Mother kills son in apparent murder-suicide

Patricia Martinez

No PhotoName: Patricia Martinez.
Died: August 20, 2022.
Age at death: 57.
Cause of death: Kidney failure.
Location: Bexar County, Texas, USA.
Disability: Chronic illness, diabetes.

Details:
Patricia was found in critical condition after allegedly being neglected by her children. She died a few days later in the hospital.

Case Status:
Oscar Dominguez (Son), Roxanna Carrero (Daughter), and Pedro Luis Carrero (Son).

Sources:
3 Adult Children Neglected Bedridden Mother So Severely She Had Mold Growing on Her Body: Sheriff
BCSO: Woman severely neglected by her 3 adult children dies in hospital
Mother dies after being found in ‘deplorable’ conditions; 3 arrested

Steven Schaper

Photo of a man with light skin and brown hair, frowning. He has a mustache and shoulder-length hair with a receding hairline; he is wearing a black and orange shirt.Name: Steven Schaper.
Died: August 10, 2022.
Age at death: 58.
Cause of death: Sepsis, bedsores, multiple infections.
Location: Des Moines, Iowa, USA.
Disability: Diabetes, chronic illness.

Details:
Steven died from neglect after being kept in poor conditions and denied medical care.

Case Status:
Jacob Schaper (Son), charged with second-degree murder.
Jocelyn Grisham (Son’s fiance), charged with second-degree murder.

Sources:
Iowa man died in ‘deplorable conditions’ after son, girlfriend denied him care: police
Iowa man and his fiancée arrested for father’s neglect death
West Des Moines Police Department News Release

John Hoover

No PhotoName: John V. Hoover.
Died: June 29, 2022.
Age at death: 44.
Cause of death: Malnutrition.
Location: Hixson, Tennessee, USA.
Disability: Intellectual disability.

Details:
John was taken to the hospital, severely malnourished and with pressure sores on his body. A week later, he died. Neighbors said John had been rummaging in the trash and asking for food; allegedly, his parents withheld food to force him to take showers, and tied him to the bed at night to keep him from taking food.

Case Status:
John Hoover (Father), charged with felony murder and aggravated neglect of a vulnerable adult.
Jacqueline Hoover (Mother), charged with felony murder and aggravated neglect of a vulnerable adult.

Sources:
Hixson Couple Facing First-Degree Murder Charges In Starving Death Of Their Adult Son
‘Severe malnutrition:’ Tennessee parents charged with starving adult son to death
A Hixson couple is facing first-degree murder and neglect charges.
Tennessee Couple Accused Of Starving Developmentally Disabled Adult Son To Death
‘Tied Him To A Bed At Night’: Tennessee Parents Face First-Degree Murder Charges For Starving Disabled Son To Death
‘That’s disgraceful:’ Neighbor says Hixson man who died of starvation rummaged for food

Luis Benítez

No PhotoName: Luis Benítez.
Died: June 12, 2022.
Age at death: 38.
Cause of death: Head trauma.
Location: Posadas, Misiones, Argentina.
Disability: Schizophrenia, anemia, breathing problems.

Details:
Luis lived with his sister and her husband, who did not want him to leave the house. One night, when he tried to do so, his brother-in-law allegedly slammed his head against the doorway. Luis was found dead in his home the next day.

Case Status:
Pedro Walter E. (Brother-in-law), arrested on suspicion of murder.

Sources:
From natural death to homicide after autopsy
De muerte natural a homicidio luego de la autopsia