Age: Child – Page 3 – Disability Day of Mourning

Arditi Bekteshi

No Photo Name: Arditi Bekteshi.
Died: July 28, 2023.
Age at death: Child.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Rufc, Lipjan, Pristina, Kosovo.
Disability: Unspecified.

Details:
Arditi’s father killed him and his mother, then died by suicide.

Case Status:
His father; deceased.

Sources:
The Kosovo Disability Forum reacts after the triple murder in Lipjan, they say that the boy was disabled
Forumi Kosovar i Aftësisë së Kufizuar flet për vrasjen në Lipjan: Fëmijët po keqtrajtohen nga familjarët e tyre, s’kanë mbështetje nga shteti

No Photo Name: Lech (Family name unknown).
Died: June 29, 2023.
Age at death: 7.
Cause of death: Drowning.
Location: Baltic Sea.
Disability: Unspecified; used adapted stroller.

Details:
Lech’s mother threw him into the Baltic Sea and then jumped in herself. A rescue operation recovered both within an hour and sent them to Karlskrona, Sweden, by helicopter; but it was too late, and both were declared dead on arrival.

Case Status:
Paulina (Mother), deceased.

Sources:
“Miraculous” Double Rescue Turns Into Homicide Investigation
Probe into death of mum and boy falling off Stena Line ferry takes chilling turn
Child who died with Polish mother when they plunged from ferry ‘was in a wheelchair’, say witnesses
Śmierć Pauliny i jej synka. Poruszające słowa szefa ratowników morskich. Mówi o cudzie podczas poszukiwań
Nowa relacja pasażerki promu. Widziała Paulinę przed tragedią. “On się nie ruszał, było widać nóżki”

Alivia Hobbs-Jordan

Photo of a young girl with brown skin and black hair in tight braids. She is wearing a puffy blue jacket. Name: Alivia Hobbs-Jordan.
Died: June 25, 2023.
Age at death: 7.
Cause of death: Abandonment.
Location: Decatur, Georgia, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Alivia’s mother allegedly buckled her into her stroller, rolled her into a closet, and left the apartment, never to return. Alivia’s body was found months later.

Case Status:
Alondra Hobbs (Mother), charged with murder and child cruelty.

Sources:
New details emerge in case where 7-year-old girl with autism was left in closet for so long she became mummified
Mother accused of killing 7-year-old daughter who was found mummified in closet left her there, had ‘no intention of returning’: Warrant
Autism Memorial: Alivia Hobbs-Jordan

A’niyah Perry

Name: A’niyah Perry.
Died: May 1, 2023.
Age at death: 6.
Cause of death: Malnutrition.
Location: Hinesville, Georgia, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
Emergency responders were called to A’niyah’s home for a report of an unresponsive child. They found A’niyah’s body, emaciated and weighing only 28 pounds; investigators determined she had died from malnutrition, and examination of the home showed a dirty environment with almost no food available. Child services had been alerted to A’niyah’s case when she was treated for a broken leg, which medical professionals said was non-accidental but her mother said had come from falling off the bed; A’niyah had also been missing medical appointments. Her non-custodial father had also been attempting to get help for A’niya for two years, but, he says, “No one ever listened to me.”

Case Status:
Shelly Perry (Mother), charged with child cruelty through starvation, tampering with evidence, false statements, and concealment of a death.
Brandon Robinson (Mother’s boyfriend), charged with child cruelty through starvation, tampering with evidence, false statements, and concealment of a death.

Sources:
What happened to A’niyah? Report sheds new light on what Hinesville police found after child’s death
Records detail abuse investigation years before Hinesville 6-year-old died
Obituary for A’Niyah Sandrea Perry at SMALLS FUNERAL HOME, INC.
Father of 6-year-old found dead in Hinesville home says he had been worried for his daughter for years

5-year-old girl

No Photo Name Unknown.
Died: April 27, 2023.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Beaten.
Location: Surat, Gujarat, India.
Disability: Unspecified.

Details:
This 5-year-old girl died from her injuries after her mother, who came home to hear her crying, allegedly became infuriated and beat her severely.

Case Status:
Bilkisbanu (Mother), arrested on suspicion of murder.

Sources:
Surat: Shocking revelation in the murder of a 5-year-old disabled girl
A mother killed her 5-year-old disabled daughter in Surat
Shocking Twist in Surat Murder Case of 5-Year-Old Disabled Girl

Eliana Gonzalez

Photo of a young girl sitting at a table, wearing a fluffy pink robe. She has light skin and long black hair with a pink bow in it and a mouse-ears headband. Name: Eliana “Nichie” Paloma Gonzalez.
Died: April 7, 2023.
Age at death: 7.
Cause of death: Hit by car.
Location: Prunedale, California, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Eliana left her home and was killed when she tried to cross a highway and was hit by a car. Police believe her father, fully aware of the danger to Eliana, deliberately took no precautions to prevent the accident.

Eliana’s name has been variously reported as Eliana Paloma, Eliana Gonzalez, and Nichie Paloma.

Case Status:
Jermain Gonzalez (Father), charged with second-degree murder and child abuse; pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter and child abuse, sentenced to 10 years.

Sources:
Prunedale dad convicted for daughter’s death on Highway 101
7-year-old girl killed while trying to cross Highway 101
Prunedale dad convicted for daughter’s death on Highway 101
7-year-old girl killed while trying to cross Highway 101
Autism Memorial: Eliana Gonzalez
Monterey County Father Charged with Murder After 7-Year-Old Daughter Tragically Killed on Highway 101
Prunedale father charged with murder in death of autistic daughter
Father arrested after daughter, 7, killed on Highway 101 in Monterey County
DA: Arraignment postponed for father of girl killed while trying to cross Highway 101

Rosa Hargrave

Photo of a heavyset girl with pale skin and dark-brown hair in a ponytail. She is wearing a red SpongeBob Christmas shirt and pink print pajama bottoms. Name: Rosa “May May” Hargrave.
Died: March 2, 2023.
Age at death: 12.
Cause of death: Sepsis; untended wounds.
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
Disability: Autism, ADHD, asthma.

Details:
Rosa lived in unsanitary conditions, was poorly cared for, and often had to be treated for skin infections. She died of sepsis after one such infection went untreated until it spread to her bloodstream.

Rosa was a “girly girl” who loved all things pink; she enjoyed watching YouTube videos.

Case Status:
Rosa Hargrave (Mother), pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury, sentenced to 3 years house arrest and 4 years probation.
Charles Turner (Mother’s boyfriend), pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury, sentenced to probation.
Felicia Hargrave (Aunt), pleaded guilty to neglect of a dependent resulting in bodily injury, sentenced to probation.

Sources:
Indy mom avoids jail time after daughter dies from infected wound
Obituary for Rosa May Hargrave | Fountain Square Mortuary
3 charged with neglect in death of Indy 12-year-old, mice and feces found inside home
Autism Memorial: Rosa Hargrave

Kaleb Bogan

Photo of a young boy with dark skin, grinning at the camera, lying back on a pillow, wearing an orange tank top printed with "Let's" (the rest of the message is out of frame). Name: Kaleb Bogan.
Died: January 15, 2023.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Blunt trauma and burns.
Location: Tupelo, Mississippi, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Paramedics were called to Kaleb’s home, where he was unresponsive. They performed CPR but were unable to revive him, and he was pronounced dead at the hospital, where doctors reported that Kaleb’s body was covered in scars and burns. His mother was arrested.

Case Status:
Brianna Young (Mother), charged with murder, child abuse, and child neglect.

Sources:
Tupelo mother held without bond after charges upgraded to capital murder
Tupelo woman charged with child abuse after 5 year old autistic child died over weekend | Tippah News
Tupelo woman charged after five-year-old autistic son dies | DeSoto County News
Tupelo mom charged in death of 5-year-old son
Funeral Expenses for Kaleb Bogan, organized by Leslie Harris
Autism Memorial: Kaleb Bogan

Skyler Wilson

Name: Skyler Wilson.
Died: January 9, 2023.
Age at death: 4.
Cause of death: Hypoxic brain injury.
Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
Disability: Reactive attachment disorder.

Details:
Skyler’s parents allegedly tried to “treat” him by swaddling him tightly–so tightly that he could not breathe. Skyler was rushed to the hospital, but died four days later from a brain injury caused by lack of oxygen.

Case Status:
Joseph Wilson (Adoptive father), charged with murder.
Jodi Wilson (Adoptive mother), charged with murder.

Sources:
Warrants reveal Surry County 4-year-old died of hypoxic brain injury, wrist and ankle straps found in home
Search warrants reveal Surry County 4-year-old died from a hypoxic brain injury
Search warrant sheds light on child’s death
Parents Abused 4-Year-Old Son, Who Languished in Hospital for Days before Dying: Deputies
Husband, wife charged with murder of 4-year-old

Jessie Pickle

Name: Jessie Pickle.
Died: December 26, 2022.
Age at death: 10.
Cause of death: Untreated infection.
Location: Athens, Texas, USA.
Disability: Autism, fetal alcohol syndrome.

Details:
Jessie died from an untreated infection while in the care of his stepmother. Videos provided to the police by his father, who spent long periods away at work and monitored his children with video cameras, show Jessie’s stepmother responding to his obvious illness by locking him in his room for the night; in the morning, she found Jessie dead.

Case Status:
Shonna Pickle (Stepmother), charged with injury to a child.

Sources:
Autism Memorial: Jessie Pickle
Athens woman arrested in death of 10-year-old autistic non-verbal stepson
Affidavit: Athens woman’s abuse, neglect led to death of child