Age: Baby – Page 11 – Disability Day of Mourning

L’Naya White

Name: L’Naya White.
Died: June 26, 2015.
Age at death: 6 months.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Rapid City, South Dakota, USA.
Disability: Unspecified.

Details:
L’Naya was raped and beaten by her mother’s boyfriend and died of a head injury caused by shaken baby syndrome. However, during trial her killer argued that he had merely left her on the couch, which was dangerous because of her frailty due to her “serious disability”, and she had fallen off and hit her head on the floor. Eventually he was allowed to admit to being negligent, plead guilty to second-degree manslaughter, and receive a sentence of only 4 years in prison.

Case status:
Kristopher Houchin (Mother’s boyfriend), initially charged with rape, child abuse, and murder. Pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter; sentenced to 10 years consisting of 4 years in prison and a 6-year suspended sentence.

Source:
Rapid City man sentenced after admitting he’s responsible for the death of a six month old girl
Candlelight Vigil For L’Naya Love Police Discover Shocking Reason Behind 6-Month-Old Baby’s Death Baby’s Violent Death Hits Deep In Rapid City Community Rapid City Man Sentenced In Death Of 6-Month-Old Girl Monsters Among Us: Kristopher Houchin charged with the rape and murder of 6-month-old L’Naya Love White Rapid City man charged with murder of 6-month-old girl Obituary for L’Naya Love White – Rapid City, SD
Kristopher Houchin Charged With The Rape And Murder Of 6-month-old Girl
Rapid City man sentenced to prison for baby’s death
Baby’s Violent Death Hits Deep In Rapid City Community

Forgiveness Sibanda

No Photo Name: Forgiveness Sibanda.
Died: June 21, 2015.
Age at death: 3.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Mafohla village, Umguza, Zimbabwe.
Disability: Unspecified.

Details:
Forgiveness’s father had been told by some prophets that his son was a goblin. He believed them, and hated Forgiveness because he could not see himself “raising a goblin”.

While Forgiveness’s mother was at the canal doing the laundry, his father hit him on the head and killed him. When his mother came back, his father threatened to kill her too if she reported the murder, and put her on a bus to tell her mother that the child had died of natural causes. But Forgiveness’s mother went to the police instead, and the toddler’s body was found buried in the backyard.

Case status:
Jeremiah Filbert Sibanda (Father), convicted of murder with intent, sentenced to 25 years.

Source:
Father Kills Disabled Son (3)
Parents Kill Own Disabled Son
Man kills disabled son, buries body
Killer dad jailed for 25 years

Jacklyn Nguyen

Name: Jacklyn Nguyen.
Died: June 13, 2015.
Age at death: 2.
Cause of death: Blunt trauma.
Location: Los Banos, California, USA.
Disability: Developmental disability, possibly autism.

Details:
Jacklyn’s mother sent her to stay with a chiropractor who promised to cure her autism. Coroner’s findings suggest that the chiropractor beat her severely. She died from her injuries.

Case status:
Vincent Hoai Do, convicted of involuntary manslaughter and child abuse causing death, sentenced to 9 years in prison.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Jacklyn Nguyen
Patterson man housing children with autism found guilty in toddler’s death
Murder charge in death of disabled 2-year-old
Patterson man says 2-year-old girl fell. Pathologist said that’s not how she died.
Patterson man sentenced in death of toddler with developmental disability

Gracie Buss

Photo of Gracie Buss, a small girl with fair skin, dark brown eyes, and black hair. She is smiling. Name: Gracie Buss.
Died: June 3, 2015.
Age at death: 4.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Waterloo, Iowa, USA.
Disability: Epilepsy.

Details:
When her boyfriend beat little Gracie Buss to death, Gracie’s mother told the police that Gracie’s seizures had made her fall down the stairs.

Case status:
Chad Little (Mother’s boyfriend), convicted of first-degree murder, sentenced to life.
Kristi Buss (Mother), pleaded guilty to neglecting a dependent person, child neglect resulting in serious injury and involuntary manslaughter, sentenced to 25 years.

Source:
Iowa crime: Waterloo woman pleads guilty in 4-year-old daughter’s death
No bond reduction for mom held in child death case
Waterloo man charged with death of 4-year-old girl
What happened to Gracie Buss?
Gracie Buss’s family searching for answers one month later
Defense begins in child death trial

Aiden Archer

Photo of Aidan Archer, a toddler with blue eyes and blond hair. Name: Aiden Archer.
Died: June 1, 2015
Age at death: 3.
Cause of death: Head trauma.
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Aiden was beaten to death by his mother’s boyfriend.

Case status:
Maurice Snyder (Mother’s boyfriend), pleaded no contest to second-degree reckless homicide and three counts of physical abuse of a child, sentenced to 24 years.
Megan Scott (Mother), charged with failure to act to prevent bodily harm to a child; died before trial.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Aidan Archer
Maurice Snyder Jr. now faces homicide charge in death of three-year-old Aiden Archer
Charged: Two accused in connection with death of three-year-old Aiden Archer
Vigil honors life of 3-year-old Milwaukee boy
Maurice Snyder sentenced to 24 years in prison for murder of 3-year-old Aiden Archer

Malachi Golden

Photo of a toddler in a sling-style stroller. He is chewing on a raw carrot, and wearing a bulky helmet. Name: Malachi De’Andre Golden.
Died: May 11, 2015.
Age at death: 4.
Cause of death: Malnutrition.
Location: High Shoals, North Carolina, USA.
Disability: Chromosomal disorder, epilepsy, developmental delays.

Details:
Malachi was physically abused by his stepfather and mother over an extended period of time. He was also starved and neglected, his seizure medication was withheld, and he was denied medical care. His mother kept him in a small closet, without food and water. Malachi died from starvation, weighing 19 pounds; his mother also said that his stepfather had strangled him.

Two years after Malachi died, courthouse staff took up a collection to get Malachi a proper headstone.

Case status:
Thomas Cheeks (Stepfather), convicted of first-degree murder and child abuse; sentenced to life without parole.
Tiffany Cheeks (Mother), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and child abuse, sentenced to 19 years.

Source:
North Carolina Supreme Court upholds murder charge in starvation death of 4-year-old child
New report: Child strangled to death
Stepdad offered plea deal in boy’s death
Abuse charges for accused child killer
Court clerks raise money to buy grave marker for boy who starved to death
Mother served murder papers in disabled boy’s death
Gaston County mother could get life in prison for 4-year-old son’s death
GASTON CO. MOM CHARGED IN SON’S MURDER: 19 more years in prison for Gaston County mother in 4-year-old son’s death

Ahziya Osceola

Photo: A toddler with olive-toned skin, wearing a plastic fireman's hat and a denim shirt, smiling. Name: Ahziya Osceola.
Died: March 19, 2015 (Body found).
Age at death: 3.
Cause of death: Internal injury from abdominal trauma.
Location: Hollywood, California, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Ahziya’s stepmother initially claimed that he had gone missing, but the toddler’s body was found, and his cause of death determined to have been blunt-force abdominal trauma that severely injured his liver and pancreas. He also had a broken leg which had gone untreated.

Case status:
Analiz Osceola (Stepmother), convicted of aggravated manslaughter of a child, sentenced to 30 years.
Nelson Osceola (Father), charged with child neglect, charges dropped.

Source:
Stepmother Found Guilty in 2015 Death of Hollywood Toddler
Stepmother sentenced for fatally beating 3-year-old boy so badly his pancreas broke into pieces
Slain Hollywood Toddler’s Father Testifies in Murder Trial of Ex-Wife
Autism Memorial: Ahziya Osceola
Massive Search In Hollywood For Missing 3-Year-Old Child
Stepmother, Father In Jail Following Death Of Toddler
Ahziya Osceola Had Been Living With Untreated Broken Leg For Weeks Before Death
Behind smiles, a Florida child’s short, troubled life
Father, stepmother of boy found dead in Hollywood home arrested
Stepmother of Dead South Florida Boy Held on on $230,000 Bond

Owen Collins

Name: Owen Collins.
Died: January 17, 2015.
Age at death: 3.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Bluffton, Indiana, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
When Owen died, his parents put him in a box, burned his body, and reported him missing. Initial reports implied Owen had been poisoned with meth, but autopsy results showed Owen had died from a blow to the head with no meth in his system.

Case status:
Zachary S. Barnes (Stepfather), pleaded guilty to murder, sentenced to 50 years.
Breanna J. Arnold (Mother), pleaded guilty to dealing methamphetamine, sentenced to 20 years in prison and two and a half years of probation.
Zachary Barker, pleaded guilty to abuse of a corpse and dealing methamphetamine, sentenced to 12 years.

Source:
Mother of slain Owen Collins sentenced for meth charge
Autism Memorial: Owen Collins
3 Year Old Owen Collins Missing Since 1/17/15 in Bluffton, IN
Bluffton, IN Police Searching for Missing Boy Owen Collins
Body Of Missing Toddler Found In Woods
Coroner: Cause of death could take up to two weeks
‘We put dope in their bottles and watched them have fun’
Owen Collins’ father reacts to homicide ruling

Iblah Pilo

No Photo Name: Iblah (Ibrahim) Pilo.
Died: January 16, 2015.
Age at death: 2.
Cause of death: Missing, presumed dead.
Location: Chimtanda village, Malawi.
Disability: Albinism.

Details:
Iblah’s mother was worried that he would be kidnapped and sold for his body parts, but her husband told her to stay with him, saying that he would protect the little boy.

Days later, Iblah’s mother woke in the night to hear him screaming; he was being kidnapped. She was unable to save him.

Iblah’s body was never found, but it is likely that he was indeed sold for his body parts, which are used in ritual magic. Police arrested his father and two other men.

Case status:
Iblah’s father and two others were charged with kidnapping and burglary, but released due to insufficient evidence.

Source:
Malawi: Killing spree of people with albinism fuelled by ritual practices and policing failures
Prejudice against people with albinism in Malawi

Hayden Dukes

Name: Hayden Dukes.
Died: January 8, 2015.
Age at death: 4.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Underwood, Indiana, USA.
Disability: Autism, DiGeorge syndrome.

Details:
Hayden’s father was watching TV, and Hayden was getting in the way. Instead of paying attention to his son, Hayden’s father beat him to death.

Case status:
Christopher Bruck (Father); charged with aggravated battery and neglect of a dependent, sentenced to 40 years in prison and 2.5 years parole.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Hayden Dukes
Family: Child beaten by father dies
Southern Indiana man convicted in 4-year-old son’s death given 40 year prison sentence