Category: Age: Child

Age 5-11

Madelin Day

Photo of a pale-skinned girl with curly blond hair, lying in a big yellow head-support pillow, fists bunched up next to her face. She has strabismus in one eye. She is smiling.Name: Madelin Anika Day.
Died: November 16, 2022.
Age at death: 4.
Cause of death: Cocaine overdose.
Location: Mattoon, Illinois, USA.
Disability: Unspecified; mobility impaired.

Details:
Madelin died from a cocaine overdose while in the care of her mother and her boyfriend. It is unknown whether she got into the cocaine on her own, or whether it was deliberately administered.

Madeline liked being outdoors, floating in the pool or soaking up the sun. She had a collection of stuffed animals, and loved her grandma’s dog Milo. Her favorite color was blue.

Case Status:
Taylor West (Mother), charged with first-degree murder and drug-induced homicide.
Maverick Bowman (Mother’s boyfriend), charged with first-degree murder and drug-induced homicide.

Sources:
Police: Disabled child dies of cocaine overdose; two individuals arrested
Two Mattoon people arrested for drug-induced homicide, murder of child
Two arrested in connection with 4-year-old’s cocaine overdose death, police say
Madelin Day Obituary (2017 – 2022)

5-year-old boy

Photo of a small boy with light-brown skin and short black hair, wearing a yellow T-shirt and striped gray and white shorts, sitting on the floor next to a colorful toddler toy.Name Unknown.
Died: November 8, 2022.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Suffocation.
Location: Hat Yai, Songkhla Province, Thailand.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
This five-year-old boy was found dead in his apartment. Police believe that his mother, who had to be hospitalized after a suicide attempt, smothered him with a pillow.

Case Status:
Thitirat Kongkerd (Mother), hospitalized and under investigation.

Sources:
Teacher murders her 5 year old autistic son in southern Thailand
Teacher kills autistic son before consuming toilet cleaner

Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez

Photo of a boy sitting on carpet. He has light-brown skin and short straight black hair. He is wearing a black T-shirt with a colorful logo on the front. His expression is somewhat worried, and his head is tilted to the side.Name: Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez.
Died: November 1, 2022 (Missing).
Age at death: 6.
Cause of death: Missing, presumed dead.
Location: Everman, Texas, USA.
Disability: Developmental disorder, unspecified lung condition.

Details:
When Noel was last seen in October 2022, his mother was giving birth to twins, and he was observed to be sick and malnourished. On November 1, his mother went to get passport photos taken for her whole family except for Noel. Months later, on March 20, 2023, a welfare check discovered Noel missing, and two days after that, Noel’s family–mother, stepfather, and six siblings–flew to India without him.

When interviewed, relatives and other witnesses told police that Noel’s mother had been withholding food and water from him because she did not like changing his diapers. They said that Noel’s mother believed he was “evil” and “possessed” and would hurt her newborn twins.

Investigators now believe that Noel is dead, and are conducting a search for his body.

A foster mother with whom Noel once stayed remembers him as a boy who was full of joy, who loved to laugh and play.

Case Status:
Inquest into Noel’s death has been declared a homicide investigation.
Cindy Rodriguez-Singh (Mother) and Arshdeep Singh (Stepfather) are wanted for murder, child abandonment, and child endangerment. The US government is working with the Indian government to extradite them to the US. Noel’s mother was arrested after being added to the FBI Most Wanted list.

Sources:
Woman Fled the Country After Allegedly Killing Her 6-Year-Old Disabled Son – FBI Finally Nabs Her After Years of Search
FBI ‘Most Wanted’ Fugitive Cindy Rodriguez Singh Arrested in India for Killing Son
FBI’s ‘Most Wanted’ fugitive held in India for son’s murder
FBI Adds Texas Woman With India Ties, To ‘Top 10 Most Wanted’ List For Alleged Murder Of Disabled Son
Mother of missing Everman boy added to FBI’s Most Wanted List
FBI offers reward in search for mother who allegedly told relatives she sold her 6-year-old son
Woman Wanted For Murder Of Disabled Son, 6, Believed He Was “Evil, Demon”
Mother of presumed-dead disabled boy has been indicted in hopes of expediting return from India
Mom who ditched ‘evil’ disabled son, then fled country with rest of family slapped with murder charge
Texas mom on lam indicted for killing Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez
Stepfather of missing disabled boy allegedly stole $10K ‘just hours’ before fleeing country
New potential areas of interest being investigated for evidence of missing disabled boy whose mother recently fled the country
Cadaver dogs alert to the soil underneath brand new concrete patio near where missing boy lived
Case of missing Noel Rodriguez-Alvarez, 6, turns into homicide investigation
Missing Texas boy’s mother thought he was ‘possessed’: cops
Mother of presumed dead disabled boy told relatives she sold him to a woman at a ‘Fiesta’ store
Missing Texas boy is likely dead; mom called him ‘evil,’ ‘possessed,’ Everman police say

11-year-old boy

No PhotoName Unknown.
Died: October 29, 2022.
Age at death: 11.
Cause of death: Stab wounds, head injury.
Location: Marseille, France.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
This 11-year-old boy’s mother told police she had lost sight of him and he had gotten lost; but the next day, his body was found on the banks of a river; he had been murdered. Police, who suspected his mother of killing him, arrested her and soon reported that she had admitted to killing her son because she “couldn’t deal with him anymore”.

Case Status:
His mother, age 39 (Arrested).

Sources:
11-year-old boy
Mum ‘admits killing’ autistic son, 11, after dad found his body on riverbank
12-year-old autistic child found dead in Marseille: mother admits killing him
Enfant autiste de 11 ans tué à Marseille : la mère mise en examen pour “meurtre sur mineur”
Enfant autiste tué à Marseille: la mère mise en examen pour meurtre
Infanticide à Marseille : la mère du garçon de 11 ans mise en examen

Frederico Mendes

Photo of a brown-eyed, brown-haired, fair-skinned boy in a white dress shirt. A cartoon heart has been added to the upper-left of the image.Name: Frederico Mendes.
Died: September 15, 2022.
Age at death: 10.
Cause of death: Unspecified homicide.
Location: Leeds, England, UK.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Frederico was killed by his mother in a murder-suicide.

Case Status:
Dalia Baptista (Mother), deceased.

Sources:
Mum and murdered son, 10, found dead in flat after both struggled with autism
Mum and son, 10, found dead in Leeds flat named as cousin speaks out
Mum and murdered son, 10, found dead in flat after autism struggles
Heartbroken family speaks out after mum, 30, and son, 10, found dead in flat
Mother and son found in suspected murder-suicide named
Autism Memorial: Frederico Mendes

Louise Nash

Somewhat blurred photo of a teenage girl with a round face, tan skin, and frizzy black hair tied back in a ponytail. She is wearing a dark zip-up sweater and a seat belt stretches across her chest. Her expression is neutral and relaxed, eyes half-closed.Name: Louise Nash.
Died: September 8, 2022.
Age at death: 12.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Great Waldingfield, Suffolk, England, UK.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Louise and her mother Jillu lived in Suffolk, where Louise attended a special-needs school. Louise’s parents lived in India, and the mother and daughter sometimes went to visit them. They were well-known to neighbors, who remember them always waving from their car when they drove past.

Someone called the authorities, worried about Louise and Jillu, and police went to check on them. They found Louise and Jillu dead, a gas leak in the home, and Louise’s father, badly injured and immediately taken to the hospital, who they suspect is responsible for the killings. The neighborhood had to be evacuated while the gas leak was repaired, but no one else was hurt.

Case Status:
Peter Nash (Father), convicted of murder; sentenced to 40 years to life.

Sources:
Man handed life prison sentence for murders of wife and daughter, 12
Suffolk double murder: Man called wife ‘validated cheater’
Ipswich Crown Court shown footage of Great Waldingfield family murder accused, Peter Nash, referring to 12-year-old daughter as his ‘property’ in video recorded by wife before her death
After Neely homicide, mental health workers explain what to do if someone is in crisis on the subway
Murder trial set to enter closing stages
Husband who murdered wife and daughter thought they were his ‘property’
Man faces mandatory life sentence for murder of wife and daughter
Autism Memorial: Louise Nash
Tributes paid to ‘devoted’ mum and her daughter, 12, found at home dead
Council chair speaks of shock after suspected double murder
Injured man arrested over deaths of a mother and her 12-year-old daughter
Family of ‘murdered’ mother and daughter, 12, tell of ‘utter despair’
Dad ‘stabbed severely disabled daughter, 12, to death and strangled wife’
Father in court after being charged with murder of wife and kid
Man ‘killed wife and autistic daughter’
Husband ‘stabbed autistic daughter & strangled his wife who was leaving him’
Man accused of double murder ‘confessed to psychiatrist’, court told

Yat-ming Lai

No PhotoName: Yat-ming Lai.
Died: September 2, 2022.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Beating.
Location: Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Disability: Developmental disability.

Details:
Yat-ming was found dead, his body covered in bruises.

Case Status:
Shing-tai Lai (Mother), charged with murder.
His aunt, charged with child neglect.

Sources:
Mother of murdered 5 year old boy was remanded in a mental health facility in Hong Kong

Leon Apler

Photo of a young boy with pale skin and dark-brown eyes, wearing a bright blue cap and yellow-and-blue jacket, smiling at the camera.Name: Leon Apler.
Died: August 29, 2022.
Age at death: 6.
Cause of death: Drowning, head injury.
Location: St. Johann, Tirol, Austria.
Disability: SYNGAP1.

Details:
Leon’s father claimed that he had been mugged, and that Leon had fallen into the River Ache, where he was found dead from drowning and a head injury. However, investigators believed Leon’s father faked the mugging in order to cover up Leon’s murder.

Leon’s favorite toy was a huge stuffed lion. He loved bubbles and “everything that spins”.

Case Status:
Florian Apler (Father), charged with murder; acquitted.

Sources:
“Freedom sometimes comes at a high price”
Drowned in Ache – Leon (6) begins his last journey
Dad who claims he was mugged has been arrested for murder of his disabled son
Austria tragedy as disabled boy, 6, drowns after his father was ‘knocked unconscious’

Brayden Butcher

Photo of a young boy with pale skin and dark-red hair, wearing a gray sweatshirt. His expression is neutral.Name: Brayden Aaron Butcher.
Died: August 12, 2022.
Age at death: 8.
Cause of death: Blunt trauma to head and torso.
Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA.
Disability: Autism, scoliosis, rheumatoid arthritis.

Details:
Brayden died of blows to the head and torso. His parents were arrested on suspicion of child abuse.

Brayden was a Star Wars fan who loved Darth Vader.

Case Status:
Joshua Aaron Butcher (Father), charged with murder and child abuse.
Mercedes M. Caho (Mother), charged with murder and child abuse.

Sources:
Pima County couple accused in death of special needs child
Pima County couple accused in death of special needs child
GoFundMe: Brayden’s Funeral
Brayden Aaron Butcher
Autism Memorial: Brayden Butcher

Driti Balakrishna

Blurry image of a child wearing a red shirt; she has short dark hair and tan skin; she is holding hands with an adult off to the right of the frame.Name: Driti Balakrishna (also spelled Dyuthi).
Died: August 4, 2022.
Age at death: 4.
Cause of death: Fall.
Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Disability: Autism, intellectual disability, hearing loss.

Details:
Driti died after falling from her fourth-floor balcony. After watching CCTV footage, police arrested her mother, who was allegedly upset because she had to care for Driti instead of working.

Case Status:
Sushma Bharadwaj (Mother), convicted of murder, sentenced to life.

Sources:
Bengaluru dentist gets life term for killing autistic daughter
Autism Memorial: Driti Balakrishna
Bengaluru woman charged with murder for throwing her child off apartment
Bengaluru: Police charge dentist with murder for throwing autistic child from apartment
Caught on Cam: B’luru woman throws deaf and mute daughter to death from 4th floor
Woman throws 4-year-old daughter to death in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: 4-year-old dies as dentist mother throws her off fourth floor