Age: Adult – Page 8 – Disability Day of Mourning

Jacob Ardagna

Black and white photo of a fair-skinned man with dark hair, wearing a white shirt. Name: Jacob Ardagna.
Died: October 27, 2021.
Age at death: 47.
Cause of death: Multiple blunt force injuries.
Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Disability: Mental illness.

Details:
Jacob’s son had recently moved in with him when the two got into an argument about money. The two were in the back of the building when Jacob’s son began beating him with a wooden stick, then dragged him back into the apartment, where he beat Jacob severely and went to work, leaving Jacob to die.

Jacob loved the rapper Tupac Shakur. He was cremated wearing a Tupac shirt, and his family wore Tupac shirts to his funeral.

Case Status:
Ryan Cannon (Son), pleaded guilty to manslaughter, sentenced to 9 years.

Sources:
Son sentenced to nine years for vicious assault leading to his father’s death
Hamilton man pleaded guilty to manslaughter in beating death of his dad Jacob Ardagna

Anthony Bronner

Name: Anthony Bronner.
Died: October 13, 2021.
Age at death: 48.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
Disability: Unspecified; wheelchair user.

Details:
Police found Anthony shot to death in his apartment, and witnesses identified Anthony’s nephew leaving the apartment. The nephew’s ID and cell phone were found at the apartment.

Case Status:
Mikelynn Thomas (Nephew), arrested on suspicion of murder.

Sources:
OKC Man Arrested In Connection To The Shooting Death Of His Disabled Uncle
OKC Man Arrested In Connection With The Shooting Death Of His Uncle Who Used A Wheelchair
Oklahoma City police still searching for suspects, identify man shot to death at apartment complex
Man In Wheelchair Shot, Killed In SW OKC
1 killed in apartment shooting in southwest Oklahoma City

Richard Wix Jr.

No Photo Name: Richard B. Wix Jr.
Died: September 23, 2021.
Age at death: 30.
Cause of death: Medical neglect.
Location: Glasgow, Kentucky, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Richard’s body was found in his home, where he lived with his father, about a week after his death. The home itself was in such bad shape that it was condemned; Richard’s father was arrested on suspicion of having fatally neglected or abused him. Officials say he “did not seek appropriate medical attention” for Richard.

Case Status:
Richard Len Wix (Father), convicted of abusing/neglecting an adult, sentenced to 5 years.

Sources:
Autism Memorial: Richard Wix Jr.
New details released in Glasgow reckless homicide case
Nonverbal, autistic man dies; father charged with reckless homicide
Father charged after death of son with autism
Police: Barren Co. father culpable in death of special needs son | K105

James Westcott

Name: James Westcott.
Died: September 17, 2021.
Age at death: 30.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Taberg, New York, USA.
Disability: OCD, bipolar disorder, ADHD.

Details:
James was shot to death, allegedly by his brother. James’s family testified that James had unmedicated bipolar disorder and had threatened to burn down the house the day before James’s brother decided to “defend” his family by shooting the unarmed man.

Case Status:
Matthew Westcott (Brother), convicted of murder, sentenced to 25 years to life.
Micheal Westcott (Brother), charged with attempted murder, charges dropped; convicted of making a false statement.

Sources:
Taberg man who shot and killed brother in 2021 sentenced to 25 years to life in prison
Parents take the stand in murder trial of brother vs. brother
Westcott trial: accused killer couldn’t remember shooting
Science in the spotlight, focus on forensics during day 4 of Westcott murder trial
Brother of defendant and victim testifies in brother’s murder trial
Parents of defendant, victim, testify in Matthew Westcott murder trial
Man fatally shot in the face by younger brother was also stabbed by older brother, troopers say – syracuse.com
Second brother charged in Annsville homicide accused of stabbing sibling after he was shot
Man shot in face by younger brother was also stabbed by older brother, troopers say
Man Accused of Murdering Brother with a Shotgun in Annsville

Mohammed Mukhtar

No Photo Name: Mohammed “Amin” Mukhtar.
Died: August 30, 2021.
Age at death: 53.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: Miles Platting, Manchester, England, UK.
Disability: Mental illness.

Details:
Amin was in a four-year relationship with an abusive girlfriend, who had repeatedly hurt him and had been arrested three times for abusing him, but then manipulated him into refusing to press charges when he needed medical care for his injuries. Soon after she started dating another man, she tied up Amin and strangled him to death with an extension cord.

Case Status:
Charlotte Dootson (Partner), convicted of murder, sentenced to 22 and a half years to life.

Sources:
‘Evil’ woman strangled partner to death after tying him up while she sexted man
‘Callous’ Manchester abuser who strangled partner jailed

Wayne Leworthy

Photo: Smiling, brown-haired, fair-skinned man. Name: Wayne Leworthy.
Died: August 28, 2021.
Age at death: 46.
Cause of death: Stabbing.
Location: Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Disability: “Severely disabled”, wheelchair user.

Details:
Wayne was stabbed by his father before his father killed himself. His mother came home only to find their bodies.

Case Status:
Neville Leworthy (Father), deceased.

Source:
Tragic detail before murder-suicide
‘Every single person has the right to safety’: Disability advocate speaks out following suspected murder-suicide in Adelaide
‘No red flags’: Deaths of two men in Adelaide being treated as murder-suicide
Father, 72, and his disabled son found dead in Adelaide
OAP ‘killed wheelchair-bound son, 46, & himself’ in tragic murder-suicide

Mark Vella

Name: Mark Anthony Vella.
Died: August 9, 2021.
Age at death: 52.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Murrumbateman, New South Wales, Australia.
Disability: Blind.

Details:
Mark’s wife shot him as he slept. Prosecutors at her trial said that she had “gotten tired of” caring for him after 23 years of marriage.

Case Status:
Dale Vella (Wife), convicted of murder, sentenced to 18-24 years.

Sources:
Mum blasted her blind husband in the face with shotgun while he slept
Struggle to understand woman’s murder of husband
Woman gave an Oscar-winning performance if she murdered husband, barrister says
Woman who shot blind husband guilty of murder
UPDATED: Wife who shot sleeping husband in head found guilty of murder
Dale Lee Vella committed to trial for alleged murder of Mark Vella in Murrumbateman

Mark Pagan

Name: Mark Pagan.
Died: July 24, 2021.
Age at death: Adult.
Cause of death: Head trauma.
Location: Nashville, Georgia, USA.
Disability: Schizophrenia.

Details:
Mark lived with his sister, who cared for him. Mark and his sister were both allegedly attacked and battered by his nephew; Mark died from massive head injuries, and his sister Kris was hospitalized in serious condition.

Case Status:
Jared Dean Zisman (Nephew), charged with felony murder, felony aggravated battery-family violence, and two counts of felony aggravated assault family violence.

Source:
‘We were in shock’: Nashville homicide, assault victims’ family speaks out
Help for Kris Pagan & Her Younger Son, organized by Patti Pietroniro
Man charged in Nashville weekend killing, assaults

Sermakani

Name: Sermakani.
Died: July 12, 2021.
Age at death: 35.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India.
Disability: Learning disability.

Details:
Sermakani’s family found her a husband, but when they realized she was already five months pregnant, they allegedly killed her and reported it as a natural death. Neighbors suspected foul play and reported the death to the police, who say that, when arrested, Sermakan’s mother and sister admitted to strangling her to “end their misery and save their pride”.

Case Status:
Murder case registered.
Murugammal (Mother), arrested.
Selvi (Sister), arrested.

Source:
Unmarried Pregnant Woman With Learning Disability Murdered By Mother, Sister
Mother, sister held for murdering pregnant woman in Tamil Nadu | Madurai News – Times of India

Ekadashi Swain

No Photo Name: Ekadashi Swain.
Died: July 4, 2021.
Age at death: 38.
Cause of death: Beaten.
Location: Khasadi village, Kendrapara, Odisha, India.
Disability: Unspecified; physically challenged.

Details:
Ekadashi was on his way home from the field when his cousin and some accomplices allegedly ambushed him and bludgeoned him to death with a plank. Police say the motive was a property dispute.

Case Status:
Santosh Swain (Cousin), wanted for murder.
Nidhiram Swain (Relative), wanted for murder.
Unnamed woman, wanted for murder.

Source:
Disabled Person Beaten To Death By ‘Cousin’ In Kendrapada | Odisha (Caution: Censored graphic image.)
Differently-abled man stoned to death over land dispute