Age: Child – Page 13 – Disability Day of Mourning

Mason Jordan

Name: Mason Jordan.
Died: August 20, 2018.
Age at death: 7.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Bend, Oregon, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus.

Details:
Mason’s mother shot him to death.

Mason liked reading, watercolor painting, music, and playing with toy cars. He was curious about everything. Despite medical problems that put him in the hospital on a regular basis, friends and neighbors remember him as a very happy child.

Case status:
Tashina Aleine Jordan (Mother); charged with aggravated murder, pleaded guilty to murder, conviction reduced to first-degree manslaughter; sentenced to 10 years in prison and 20 years in the Oregon State Hospital.

Source:
Oregon mother pleads guilty to killing son with disabilities
DA won’t seek death penalty in Bend mother’s murder case
Police: Bend mother kills special needs son, 7, before attempting suicide
2016-17
Single mother shoots her severely disabled 7-year-old son to death and attempts to kill herself by overdosing on pills
Correction: Disabled Child Shot story
Mother Accused Of Killing 7-Year-Old Disabled Son Before Attempting Suicide
Mother believed to have killed son expected to recover
Bend mother arraigned on aggravated murder charge in son’s shooting
Bend woman arraigned in alleged killing of son, 7
Mother indicted for murder in shooting death of son with severe disability
Bend woman charged with killing disabled son back in court

Christopher Pratt

Name: Christopher Pratt.
Died: August 17, 2018.
Age at death: 6.
Cause of death: Head injury, malnutrition.
Location: Lansing, Michigan, USA.
Disability: Chromosome 10 disease, autism, epilepsy.

Details:
Christopher died from a head injury, having lost nearly half his body weight while in the care of his aunt.

Christopher lost his mother when he was five years old. Before he went to stay with his aunt, Christopher was a happy boy who used to greet his cousin by grabbing her face to show affection.

Case Status:
Jessica Bice (Aunt), convicted of second-degree murder and first-degree child abuse, sentenced to 33 years.

Sources:
‘Christopher felt safe here’: New bench memorializes Lansing area boy who died in 2018
Aunt sentenced to prison for death of Lansing boy with special-needs
Woman responsible for death of autistic 6-year-old sentenced
Lansing woman found guilty of homicide in death of boy with special needs
Lansing woman convicted of murder, child abuse in death of 6-year-old nephew
Lansing woman convicted of murder in death of 6-year-old nephew with special needs
Jurors weigh fate of aunt charged with murder, child abuse in 6-year-old’s death
Autism Memorial: Christopher Pratt
Trial begins for aunt in 2018 death of disabled, ’emaciated’ Lansing boy
Testimony continues in child abuse, murder case
Family wants justice following death of young boy
Aunt charged with murder, child abuse in death of a Lansing 6-year-old
Family of the woman accused of killing her 6-year-old nephew speaks out
Family demands justice for Lansing boy who was killed

Jacob Edwards

Photo of Jacob Edwards, a small boy with fair skin and blond hair, smiling for the camera. He is wearing a gray T-shirt that says "Jacob". Name: Jacob Edwards.
Died: July 10, 2018.
Age at death: 6.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Prices Corner, Delaware, USA.
Disability: Williams Syndrome.

Details:
Jacob was shot by his father during a murder-suicide in which his father killed Jacob’s entire family. Also dead are Julie Edwards, Jacob’s mother, his little sister Brinley and his little brother Paxton.

Jacob liked music and dancing.

Case status:
Matthew Edwards (Father), deceased.

Source:
Dad Shot Wife, 3 Kids and Then Himself in Del. Home, PD Says
Deaths of Delaware family of 5 ruled murder-suicide
Police: Man killed wife, 3 children, then himself in Prices Corner
Deaths of Delaware family of 5 ruled murder-suicide
Family killed in alleged murder-suicide: ‘I never thought this would happen’
Mom killed in murder suicide was key member of national Williams syndrome nonprofit
Murder Victim Pleaded with Husband to Get Therapy Before He Killed Her and Their 3 Kids

Xuan Xuan

No Photo Name: Xuan Xuan
Died: June 25, 2018.
Age at death: 9.
Cause of death: Drowning.
Location: Jiangning, Nanjing, China.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
Xuan’s grandfather was annoyed that he had spent so much trying to treat her cerebral palsy. He and her father allegedly put bricks in her backpack, put the backpack on her, and threw her in the river to drown.

Case status:
Her father, surnamed Yang; arrested, confessed to murder.
Yang Mousong (Grandfather); arrested, confessed to murder.

Source:
Father, grandpa admit killing 9-year-old girl with cerebral palsy, China police say
Girl with Learning Difficulties Murdered by Father & Grandfather
Children with cerebral palsy are drowned by their fathers and grandchildren drowning in the media: poverty is not a reason.
Father and grandfather confess to drowning nine-year-old girl with cerebral palsy
Girls with cerebral palsy are being drowned by their dearest relatives.

Je’Hyrah Daniels

Photo of Je'Hyrah Daniels, an African-American toddler with tightly braided hair, wearing a T-shirt printed with "Have Fun". She is looking at the camera with her mouth pursed in fascination, and holding a cell phone. Name: Je’Hyrah Daniels.
Died: June 22, 2018.
Age at death: 4.
Cause of death: Drowning.
Location: Tampa, Florida, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Je’Hyrah’s neighbors remember that her mother was often negligent. Je’Hyrah was allowed to walk barefoot near broken glass; she was often left alone at home, and strangers came and went from their apartment. A Child and Family Services case had been opened, but closed for lack of evidence of mistreatment.

Two days after the DCFS decided Je’Hyrah was safe, Je’Hyrah’s mother stole a car from a dealership and used it to drive them to the Hillsborough River. Witnesses told police that she picked up the little girl and walked into the water as Je’Hyrah struggled and screamed for help and then, wen she reached deep water, tossed Je’Hyrah into the river and walked away.

Je’Hyrah was found by divers less than a half-hour after bystanders called the police, but she had already drowned.

Case status:
Shakayla Denson (Mother), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, sentenced to 17-20 years in prison and 10 years probation.

Source:
Mom accepts 20 years in prison in child’s Hillsborough River drowning
Autism Memorial: Je’Hyrah Daniels
Mother Murders Autistic Daughter By Drowning Her in a River
Neighbor: Mother ‘didn’t care’ about daughter tossed into Hillsborough River
Witnesses: Girl struggled, screamed as mother dragged her into Hillsborough River
Child protective investigation found no concerns about 4-year-old days before her death in Hillsborough River
Report: Mother upset daughter had disability
Shakayla Denson: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know
Girl dead after mother seen throwing her into Hillsborough River, Tampa police chief says
Mom charged with murder after tossing child in river
Shakayla Denson throws Je’Hyrah Daniels four year old autistic daughter to her Tampa river drowning death
True Crime: Mom arrested after throwing 4-year-old autistic daughter into a river
Twisted mum ‘hurled her four-year-old daughter from bridge into river’
Girl dies after ‘mum throws 4-year-old daughter into river’ in Florida
Girl, 4, who was ‘drowned in a river by mother’ was nonverbal autistic
Report: Girl dragged to death in river non-verbal, ‘fixated on water’
Mother Sought Help for Autism Before Murder of Her Daughter
Mom who ‘drowned 4yo daughter’ had just been cleared of child abuse
Tampa Police Investigate Drowning Death of Girl in River
Wednesday’s letters: Girl’s drowning death is one of two tragedies
Police Release Timeline in the Drowning of the 4-Year-Old Autistic Girl
mother stated that victim was ‘pure’ and was with her grandmother,”
Mom sang ‘It’s Raining, It’s Pouring’ as she threw autistic daughter into river, killing her: Court
Mom pleads not guilty in river drowning death
Mother who ‘drowned screaming daughter, 4, in river’ unfit for murder trial

Srijana and Vishnuvardhan Reddy

Name: Srijana Reddy.
Name: Vishnuvardhan Reddy.

Died: June 15, 2018.
Age at death: 12.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
Disability: Intellectual disability.

Details:
Srijana and her twin brother Vishnuvardhan were allegedly strangled by their uncle, who reportedly committed the crime because he wanted to relieve his sister’s “trauma” at raising two intellectually disabled children. Police say they caught the twins’ uncle, along with his roommate and a taxi driver, trying to move the bodies.

Case Status:
Mallikarjuna Reddy (Uncle), arrested.
Venkatrami Reddy (Uncle’s friend), arrested.
Vivek Reddy (Taxi driver), arrested.

Sources:
Man kills sister’s mentally challenged kids in Hyderabad, wanted to relieve her from suffering
Hyderabad Twins With Mental Disability, Killed Allegedly By Uncle
Man kills mentally disabled nephews to ”relieve sister from hardship’
Hyd horror: Twins with mental illness allegedly killed by uncle to ‘rid sister of worry’

Chloe Hobbs

Name: Chloe Renee Hobbs.
Died: June 9, 2018.
Age at death: 11.
Cause of death: Methamphetamine overdose.
Location: Elkhart, Indiana, USA.
Disability: Autism, pica.

Details:
Chloe had one sister, who was a year younger than her and also autistic. Chloe had pica, which meant she tended to eat things that weren’t food and needed to be watched so that she wouldn’t eat anything dangerous.

Her father took her and her sister along with her when he went to stay at a house where he and his girlfriend were doing some maintenance work while the owner was away. The house was extremely cluttered and dangerous, but the girls were left unattended there. Her father’s girlfriend had also brought along her methamphetamine stash, which she left where Chloe could get to it.

Chloe found the meth, ingested it, and got very sick. She spent the night vomiting, but no one called for help until Chloe stopped breathing the next morning. She could not be revived.

At autopsy, it was found that Chloe, in addition to the methamphetamine poisoning, had a bowel obstruction caused by her having eaten wood, plastic, pennies, and other items while unsupervised.

Case status:
Brandon Hobbs (Father), pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent, sentenced to 3 years.
Erica Reschke (Father’s girlfriend), charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death, sentenced to 13 years in prison and 3 years probation.

Source:
Michigan woman sentenced for death of child with special needs
Three-year prison sentence handed down in death of child who had meth in her system
Elkhart County prosecutor says girl, 10, ingested meth before death
2 charged after child dies with high levels of meth in her system
Michigan couple charged in autistic girl’s death
Court document: Meth contributed to autistic child’s death
Obituary of Chloe Hobbs | Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services

Sumitra

No Photo Name: Sumitra.
Died: May 29, 2018.
Age at death: 7.
Cause of death: Head trauma.
Location: Vajra Karur, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Disability: Physical disability.

Details:
Sumitra’s father was frustrated over her and her brother’s disabilities. He came home drunk, demanded she stand and walk, and when she could not do so, allegedly beat her to death.

Case status:
Yerriswamy (Father), arrested on a complaint of murder.

Source:
Father beat physically-disabled daughter to death – Times of India
Anantapur: Drunk father beats physically challenged daughter to death

Heaven Watkins

Photo of Heaven Watkins, a small girl with brown skin and black hair pulled back under a silver crown. She is wearing a coral-colored dress and a sash that says "Birthday Girl". Her face is scrunched up in a wide smile. Name: Heaven Watkins.
Died: May 18, 2018.
Age at death: 11.
Cause of death: Internal injuries from blunt-force trauma.
Location: Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy, autism.

Details:
Born a micropreemie at 1.7 pounds, Heaven survived a brain hemorrhage and hydrocephalus and had to spend three-and-a-half months in the NICU.

Heaven had two sisters. Her favorite colors were purple and pink. She was autistic and had cerebral palsy. She was outgoing and had fun with the neighborhood kids. She liked to play tag and to draw on the ground. One of her classmates, a girl named Claire, liked to run her fingers through Heaven’s hair. She was outspoken and “didn’t hide anything from anyone.”

She lived with her mother and her mother’s boyfriend, both of whom were abusive. She was once brought into the hospital with burns to her hand that required skin grafts, and her teachers were worried that she had been sexually abused; but the child abuse allegations at that time were ruled unfounded. Heaven usually wore a jacket to hide her bruises. She was put on a bread-and-water diet and made to stand against a wall for hours.

Heaven died of blunt-force trauma, having been severely beaten in the head and torso to the point that her gut ruptured. Doctors who examined her body found she had bleeding on the brain, as well as a dozen or more healed rib fractures and several new ones.

After Heaven was found dead, her two sisters were removed from the home and are now living with their aunt. Her neighbors held a vigil for her, releasing pink, purple, and white balloons into the sky in her honor.

Case status:
Latoya Smith (Mother), pleaded guilty to felony homicide and child abuse, sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Demont James Harris (Mother’s boyfriend), pleaded guilty to felony homicide and two counts of child abuse/neglect, sentenced to 60 years in prison with 35 years suspended.

Source:
In Minnesota’s rush to reunite children with abusive parents, hundreds of kids are hurt again
Heaven Watkins: Prison for mom who fatally beat special needs daughter’s stomach open
Couple arrested for the death of a child in Norfolk
Two more children taken from Norfolk home after 11-year-old’s death
Norfolk couple faces judge after 11-year-old dies
Medical Examiner: cause of Norfolk 11-year-old’s death was blunt force trauma
Mom, boyfriend beat slain disabled girl so severely that her stomach split open: Report
Mother, fiancé charged in death of 11-year-old autistic child, caused abdomen to split
Ocean View neighbors gather for vigil of an 11-year-old girl, Heaven
Neighborhood holds vigil for 11-year-old girl killed in Ocean View
Bond denied for man charged in Norfolk child’s death
Disabled 11-year-old girl was forced to stand for hours, beaten until she died, prosecutor says
Murdered disabled girl who had stomach beat open was forced to stand for hours on end, fed only bread & water: Prosecutor
Brian K. Payne: Learning from Heaven’s time on earth
Prosecutors DROP murder charges against mom & boyfriend accused of beating disabled girl’s stomach open
New charges suggest two didn’t intend to kill 11-year-old Norfolk girl
Charges amended for mother and boyfriend charged in fatal Ocean View child abuse case
Family of 11-year-old victim speaks out as they plan memorial services to honor the child
Heaven’s Story: Mom pleads guilty in 11-year-old daughter’s death

Taye, Rylan, Arye, and Kadyn Cockman

Name: Taye Cockman.
Age at death: 13.

Name: Rylan Cockman.
Age at death: 12.

Name: Arye Cockman.
Age at death: 10.

Name: Kadyn Cockman.
Age at death: 8.

Died: May 11, 2018.
Cause of death: Multiple homicide.
Location: Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
Disability: Autism; Rylan also had chronic pain.

Non-disabled victims: Cynda Miles, age 58; Katrina Miles, age 35.

Details:
Arye, Kadyn, Rylan, and Taye were all killed by their grandfather in a mass murder-suicide. Their mother and grandmother were murdered in the same event.

The family lived on a farm, where the four children were home-schooled, and were working on making the farm self-sustaining. They grew vegetables and even built their own dam.

The four children all kept journals, and Taye, the oldest, was becoming an accomplished writer. All the children were working on learning to swim.

Case status:
Peter Miles (Grandfather), deceased.

Source:
‘Such lovely people’: Community in shock at WA murder-suicide
Inside remote farmhouse seven people shot dead in Osmington, Australia
PICTURED: The family who live at the ‘mass murder-suicide farmhouse’
Margaret River Tragedy: 7 Dead In Suspected Murder-Suicide In Western Australia
Mum and four ‘autistic’ kids among seven dead in Australia ‘mass-murder suicide’
Four autistic children and their mother among seven found dead in Australia
Police continue probe into WA murders
Grandfather suspected of murder-suicide in Australia family massacre
Tributes for family in Margaret River suspected murder-sucide
‘We are devastated’: Grandparents, mother and four children killed in murder-suicide in Australia
Who is Peter Miles, what happened in Osmington and how is the granfather linked to the murder-suicide shooting?
Grandparents, mom and kids shot dead in Australia murder-suicide
Western Australian police say seven shooting deaths were murder-suicide
Grandad kills wife, daughter and FOUR autistic grandkids, then himself
Cops investigating whether gun owning grandfather was behind murder of 7
Tributes for family murdered in rural WA
Who were the family killed in the Margaret River mass shooting?
Three guns found at scene of murder-suicide belonged to grandfather
Mom and 4 Children With Autism Among 7 Victims of Australian Murder-Suicide — and Grandfather Is Suspect
The grandfather suspected of shooting seven family members
Pictured: Mum and Four Children Killed In ‘Murder Mass Suicide’
Osmington massacre suspect is four dead autistic children grandfather
‘He didn’t snap, he planned this’
The mystery of the Miles family and a murder-suicide that shocked the world
Osmington murder-suicide suspect, grandfather Peter Miles, sounded vague’ day before worst mass shooting in Australia for 22 years
Peter Miles: Margaret River grandfather had ‘sense of failure’
‘Sense of failure’ led to WA farm murders
Bloodshed in Australia: Grandfather suspected of gunning down his wife, daughter, and four autistic grandchildren
Grandad ‘planned the mass-shooting of my four children,’ devastated dad says
Margaret River, WA shooting: Father of murdered children speaks out
Dad Whose 4 Children with Autism Died in Murder-Suicide Says Kids’ Grandfather Planned Attack
My family was ripped apart by violence – and the killer was not a ‘good bloke’
Father of children killed in suspected murder-suicide claims grandfather planned the deadly shooting
Grandfather Suspected of Killing 6 Relatives Battled Depression After Son’s Suicide, Friend Says
Margaret River Massacre, Peter Miles, Katrina Miles
Australian feminists deny mental health crisis behind Margaret River murder-suicide
Margaret River community calls for support after mass murder
Margaret River shooting: Katrina Miles’ friends, community want better mental health