Remembering the Disabled Murdered by Caregivers
Age 5-11
Name: Hannah Davenport.
Died: January 29, 2005.
Age at death: 6.
Cause of death: Malnutrition/dehydration.
Location: Anderson, Missouri, USA.
Disability: Ectopic anus.
Details:
Hannah’s mother starved her to death.
Case status:
Karen Davenport (Mother), found guilty of second degree involuntary manslaughter, fined $5000.
Source:
Hannah Renee Davenport
Name: Ian Carmichael.
Died: July 31, 2004.
Age at death: 11.
Cause of death: Poisoned, strangled.
Location: London, Ontario, Canada.
Disability: Epilepsy, dyslexia, developmental delay.
Details:
Convinced that he was ridding his family of an “intolerable burden”, Ian’s father took him to a hotel room, where he poisoned and then strangled him to death.
Ian competed in BMX bike racing. He left behind his older sister Gillian.
The crime was initially presented by the media as a “mercy killing”. Later on, Ian’s father blamed the antidepressants he was taking.
Case status:
David Carmichael (Father), charged with first-degree murder, ruled not guilty by reason of mental disorder; hospitalized for four years; absolute discharge in December 2009.
Source:
Accused David Carmichael remains silent while media puts defense forward
Carmichael murder case put off
Man not criminally responsible in son’s death
‘Loving’ father opens up over murder of son during psychotic episode
Can pills for depression turn you into a killer?
Canadian man who killed son while taking anti-depressants lobbies for freedom of U.S. dad who killed twins
Name: Davontae Marcel Williams.
Died: July 26, 2004.
Age at death: 8.
Cause of death: Pneumonia.
Location: Arlington, Texas, USA.
Disability: Developmental disabilities due to prematurity.
Details:
Davontae was neglected by his mother and her girlfriend. Weakened by malnutrition, he died of pneumonia.
Case status:
Marcella Williams (Mother), pled guilty to murder, sentenced to life without parole.
Lisa Ann Coleman (Mother’s girlfriend), convicted of murder, sentenced to death.
Source:
Davontae Marcel Williams
Top Ten Lesser-Known and Heartbreaking Child Murders
Name: Alex Pavlis, born Alex Geiko.
Died: December 19, 2003.
Age at death: 6.
Cause of death: Beating.
Location: Schaumburg, Illinois, USA.
Disability: Fetal alcohol syndrome.
Details:
Alex was beaten to death by his adoptive mother. She had adopted him from Russia, and was angry that the adoption agency had not told her about the extent of Alex’s developmental delay.
Case status:
Irma Pavlis (Adoptive mother), sentenced to 12 years, paroled after 5 years.
Source:
Alex Pavlis
Name: Molly Holt.
Died: November 10, 2003.
Age at death: 10.
Cause of death: Fire.
Location: Clarksville, Arkansas, USA.
Disability: Mentally challenged/behaviorally challenged.
Details:
Molly’s parents chained her to her bed at night. When the house caught on fire, she burned to death.
Case status:
Teresa Dick (Mother), false imprisonment and manslaughter, 14 years in prison.
Lloyd Holt (Father), negligent homicide and false imprisonment, one year in jail.
Source:
Girl Chained To Bed Dies In Fire
Jury Convicts Ark. Mother in Death of Child Chained to Bed During House Fire
Name: E. A. (Initials; full name unknown.)
Died: August 29, 2003.
Age at death: 4.
Cause of death: Pneumonia and pyelonephritis.
Location: Mortdale, New South Wales, Australia.
Disability: Physical and intellectual disability; likely osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome.
Details:
EA was born disabled, but his parents did not seek medical attention for him because his father did not believe in modern medicine. EA’s neonatal jaundice and cataracts were only treated once child welfare services became involved. His parents did not respond to his failure to thrive, small size, and weakness, believing that God would heal the child without a doctor’s help. At four years old, he was the size of a fifteen-month-old when he died from infections in his lungs and kidneys.
Case Status:
J. A. (Father), charged with manslaughter, died before trial.
H. A. (Mother), pleaded guilty to manslaughter, sentenced to 2 years, suspended for 2 years; released.
Name: Terrance Cottrell, Jr.
Died: Aug. 25, 2003.
Age at death: 8.
Cause of death: Positional asphyxia.
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
Disability: Autism.
Details:
Terrance’s mother took him to church for an exorcism, hoping to cure his autism. The boy was pinned to the ground by several adults, and died of suffocation while his mother watched.
Case status:
Patricia Cooper (Mother); not charged.
Ray Hemphill (Pastor); convicted of child abuse; sentenced to 2-and-a-half years.
Source:
Autism Memorial: Terrance Cottrell Jr.
Hemphill Sentenced Over Boy’s “Exorcism” Death
Minister Charged In Exorcism Death
Faith Healing Death
Exorcism Death Sparks Debate
Name: Jason Dawes.
Died: August 4, 2003.
Age at death: 10.
Cause of death: Suffocated.
Location: New South Wales, Australia.
Disability: Autism.
Details:
Jason was suffocated by his mother, who believed there was “no hope for her son”.
Jason communicated by using sign boards.
Case status:
Daniela Dawes (Mother). Convicted of manslaughter; served no jail time.
Source:
Deadly Currents Beneath Calm Waters: Persons with Disability and the Right to Life in Australia
Child murder case highlights lack of services for carers of disabled
When Love is Not Enough
R v Daniella Dawes
Autism Memorial: Jason Dawes
Name: Stephanie Ramos.
Died: July 9, 2003.
Age at death: 8.
Cause of death: Undetermined.
Location: Queens, New York, USA.
Disability: Intellectual disability, blindness, cerebral palsy, diabetes.
Details:
Stephanie’s body was found in a garbage truck. Her foster mother had thrown the body in the trash and reported her missing.
Stephanie’s cause of death could not be exactly determined because the garbage truck crushed her body before it could be found. Because of the lack of evidence and Stephanie’s profound disabilities, her death was ruled natural and her mother was only charged with dumping the body. Stephanie’s foster home was filthy, and Stephanie herself weighed only 23 pounds at death. The most likely scenario is that Stephanie died of illness because her foster mother did not want anyone to know how dirty her house was, and so left the illness untreated.
Case status:
Renee Johnson (Foster mother), 60 days in jail for improper disposal of a body.
Source:
Girl Found in Trash Truck Lived in Filth, Officials Say
Name: Christian Ferguson.
Died: June 11, 2003.
Age at death: 9.
Cause of death: Missing, presumed dead.
Location: St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Disability: Citrullinemia, brain damage.
Details:
In 2003, Christian’s father reported that his car had been stolen with Christian inside. Christian, who was unable to survive without his medication, was declared dead, though his body was never found. Sixteen years later, new information came to light and his father was arrested for murder. How Christian died is unknown, but in the two years leading up to his death, he was allegedly neglected by his father, who did not provide him with proper medication or food. It is known that Christian would not have survived 72 hours without his medication.
Case status:
Dawan Ferguson (Father), convicted of first-degree murder, sentenced to life without parole.
Source:
Byers’ Beat: What’s next for Christian Ferguson’s mother
Dawan Ferguson: Life sentence in murder of STL son
St. Louis County man convicted of killing disabled son now found guilty of molesting children
‘This Child’s Life was Punishment’: Dad of Missing Disabled Boy Convicted of Murder, Abuse
Nearly 20 years later, father convicted in death of boy
Closing arguments in Dawan Ferguson murder trial
Sibling of missing boy with special needs testifies during father’s murder trial
Murder trial begins for father of missing 9-year-old Christian Ferguson
Murder trial to begin for father of St. Louis County boy missing since 2003
19 years later, father of missing North County disabled boy heading to trial
Vanishing Act: Six Years After The Fact, The Disappearance Of Nine-Year-Old Christian Ferguson Remains A Mystery
Christian Ferguson case: Father’s murder charge dismissed but later refiled
Child abuse charge added against St. Louis County man accused of killing disabled son
St. Louis County prosecutor drops then refiles murder charge in death of 9-year-old boy
Bench trial granted for St. Louis County man accused of killing disabled son
Murder trial set for St. Louis County man accused of killing disabled son
Father accused of killing 9-year-old son backs down from speedy trial request
Father charged with son’s murder now facing child sex crime charges
St. Louis County man accused of killing disabled son in 2003 stays in jail; prosecutors plan more charges
Birthday memorial for missing, murdered Christian Ferguson
Disabled boy went missing 16 years ago, now father is charged with his murder
Missouri father charged with murder 16 years after disabled 9-year-old son disappeared
Disabled boy went missing 16 years ago, now father is charged with his murder
‘Justice for Christian’: 16 years later, police charge father for the murder of disabled little boy [Reports]
Man Charged With Son’s Death From 2003
Missouri father charged with murder of disabled boy who went missing 16 years ago