Age: Child – Page 26 – Disability Day of Mourning

Kaiya Kapahu

Photo of a small girl with light-tan skin, big brown eyes, and straight, long, black hair. Name: Kaiya Kalora Kapahu.
Died: February 18, 2010.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Starvation.
Location: Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
Disability: Rett syndrome.

Details:
Kaiya was deliberately starved to death by her uncle.

Case status:
Leonard “Sonny” Orta Jr. (Uncle); pled guilty to second-degree murder; sentenced to 18 years.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Kaiya Kapahu
Hawaii dad trusted his brother, but Kaiya instead was starved
Father of special-needs girl found dead had planned to bring her home
Family, friends still struggling as they say farewell to Kaiya
Find a Grave: Kaiya Kalora Kapahu
GCC student honors the memory of Kaiya Kapahu

Jude Mirra

Photo of Jude Mirra, a boy wearing a blue-and-orange shirt and blue visor. His skin is light, and his cheeks are pink. He is smiling, mouth closed, and looking up at the camera. Name: Jude Mirra
Died: February 4, 2010.
Age at death: 8.
Cause of death: Poisoning.
Location: New York City, New York, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Jude’s mother allegedly poisoned him with prescription drugs.

Case status:
Gigi Jordan (Mother), convicted of first-degree manslaughter, sentenced to 18 years. Conviction overturned because of a violation of her right to a public trial. New trial granted; decision reversed. Died by suicide after being told she would return to prison.

Source:
NYC pharma exec who killed son dies in Brooklyn
Ruling ordering new trial in death of 8-year-old is reversed
Autism Memorial: Jude Mirra
Gigi Jordan Convicted Of Killing Son Now Freed On Bond In SDNY For Closed Courtroom
Millionaire pharma exec who fatally poisoned her son, 8, granted bail
NY Socialite Who Killed Autistic Son With Lethal Combo Of Pills In 2010 Could Be Freed
Millionaire mom convicted of killing autistic son may be retried
Mother Held in Death of Boy, 8, at Luxury Hotel
Mother Facing Murder Charges in Death of Autistic Boy, 8, in Peninsula Hotel
‘Socialite’ Kills Autistic Son, 9, in New York Hotel, Attempts Suicide
Poor health of autistic son Jude Mirra led mother Gigi Jordan to kill him: pal
Mom murdered her autistic son after seeking help from therapist who believes in ‘Satanic mind control’

Jeremy Bostick

Black and white portrait photo of Jeremy Bostick, a young boy with light skin and hair, a crew cut, and a gap between his front teeth, smiling for the camera. Name: Jeremy Bostick.
Died: September 27, 2009.
Age at death: 11.
Cause of death: Carbon monoxide poisoning.
Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Jeremy’s father gassed himself and his son with carbon monoxide.

Case status:
Jeffrey Bostick (Father), deceased.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Jeremy Bostick
Dad in murder-suicide had sought help for autistic son
Dad ‘snapped’ when autistic son sent to home, court told
Fatality inquiry into murder-suicide of father and autistic son reveals years-long struggle
Alberta has a tragic history of murder-suicides within families

Charlotte Avenall

Photo of Charlotte Avenall, a small, strawberry-blonde, fair skinned girl sitting on a bed with her chin on her hand, wearing pink pants and a white shirt, looking thoughtful. Name: Charlotte Avenall.
Died: September 12, 2009.
Age at death: 8.
Cause of death: Hanging.
Location: Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, UK.
Disability: Cerebral palsy, intellectual disability.

Details:
Even though they took good care of their exotic pets, Charlotte’s parents neglected their daughter. Despite her disabilities and age requiring supervision, she was locked into a filthy room, completely alone; on the day she died, she had been left alone for fourteen hours. She had just learned to tie a knot in school when she hanged herself by the cord on the window blinds and died.

Case status:
Simon Moody (Father), pleaded guilty to child cruelty, sentenced to 12 months in prison.
Susan Moody (Mother), pleaded guilty to child cruelty, sentenced to 12 months in prison.

Source:
Hanged girl’s parents jailed for child cruelty
Charlotte Avenall’s ‘atrocious’ neglect shocked town
Police arrest parents of eight-year-old girl found hanged at home

Camden Fry

Photo of Camden Fry, a young girl with light-brown hair, blue eyes, and pale skin. Her hair is held back in a hair band and she is smiling for the camera, revealing dimples in her cheeks. Name: Camden Alexis Fry.
Died: August 9, 2009.
Age at death: 8.
Cause of death: Positional asphyxia.
Location: North Kingstown, Rhode Island, USA.
Disability: ADHD, anxiety.

Details:
Camden liked animals, nature, and art. She enjoyed swimming, hockey, and playing with her friends. She took art and cooking classes and liked to arrange her stuffed animals every night before bed.

When Camden struggled because she didn’t want a bath, her mother restrained her and eventually strangled her with pressure on her chest and hands on her neck and mouth.

Case status:
Kimberly Fry (Mother), convicted of second-degree murder, sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Source:
Mother asks court to throw out her conviction for killing daughter
Mom who killed child argues cops have done same to suspects
Rhode Island mother to serve 20 years in death of daughter, 8 – The Boston Globe
Camden Fry Obituary
Local child’s death stuns community
Therapist: Kimberly Fry Blamed Daughter For Depression; Felt Hopeless
UPDATE: Key Information Disclosed Two Years After Girl’s Death

Giovanni Kopystenski

Photo of a young boy with olive skin and black hair, wearing an athletic jersey, standing in front of some palm trees. Name: Giovanni Kopystenski.
Died: July 21, 2009.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Giovanni’s father says he left a loaded gun on the center console of the car while he and the boy were in the car, and that Giovanni took the gun and shot himself in the head.

Giovanni was playful and mischievous, a great swimmer who loved Thomas the Tank Engine and McDonald’s chicken nuggets.

Case status:
Alex Kopystenski (Father), pleaded guilty to child abuse and neglect with substantial bodily harm; sentenced to 5 years probation.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Giovanni Kopystenski
Mother in Shock After Death of Son
Boy’s father charged with endangerment after fatal shooting
Sentencing delayed for father who admits guilt in boy’s fatal shooting
Grandmother disputes police report that boy was shot with gun left on vehicle’s console
Giovanni’s Legacy Foundation

Meah Weidner

Photo of Meah Weidner, a young girl with short blond hair and fair skin, sitting in a power chair, smiling mischievously with her tongue stuck out. There is an ocean in the background. Name: Meah Weidner.
Died: July 7, 2009.
Age at death: 10.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
Meah’s mother’s boyfriend killed her by shaking her and dropping her on her head.

Case status:
David “Tony” Tyre (Mother’s boyfriend), homicide by child abuse, life without parole.

Source:
Child’s death stuns friends in Carolina Miracle League

Michael Becht Jr.

Name: Michael “Mikey” Becht Jr.
Died: July 6, 2009.
Age at death: 10.
Cause of death: Poisoning.
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Michael’s mother poisoned him with a drug overdose.

Michael had befriended the neighbor’s six-year-old, with whom he played “Whales and Sharks”, a modified version of tag.

Case status:
Patricia Becht (Mother); pled guilty to murder; Sentenced to 38 years, 3 months with possibility of parole in 25-and-a-half years.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Michael Becht Jr.
In Loving Memory Of Michael Becht Jr (Mikey)
Mother investigated in South St. Paul boy’s death
South St. Paul mother suspected of killing 10-year-old son
South St. Paul mom charged in attempted murder-suicide by drug overdose that left son dead
Mom admits to killing autistic son
Minnesota Mother Charged With Poisoning Children Says She Had Planned to Commit Suicide With Them at Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch

D’Amber Myles

No Photo Name: D’Amber Myles.
Died: June 30, 2009.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Drowning.
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Disability: Cerebral Palsy.

Details:
D’Amber’s mother allegedly put her in the bathtub and turned the water on, then closed the door and left her there with the water running as the bathtub filled. Because she could not hold her head out of the water, D’Amber drowned.

Case status:
Raven Gibbons (Mother), charged with second-degree murder.

Source:
Woman arrested, charged in drowning of daughter
Mother charged in drowning of 5-year-old daughter – Las Vegas Sun Newspaper
Mother charged with murder

Peter Mugo

No Photo Name: Peter Mugo.
Died: June 25, 2009.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Homicide.
Location: Limuru, Kiambu County, Kenya.
Disability: Deaf.

Details:
Peter’s mother killed him and threw his body into a latrine. She had been hiding his existence from her current husband, and killed him to try to save her marriage.

Case status:
Alice Njoki (Mother), sentenced to 6 years.

Source:
Alice Njoki