Age: Child – Page 7 – Disability Day of Mourning

Najir Diehl

Name: Najir William Diehl.
Died: September 5, 2021.
Age at death: 11.
Cause of death: Methanol poisoning.
Location: East Fairfield Township, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Mobility impaired; unable to walk independently.

Details:
Najir’s mother is accused of killing him by feeding him a cup of windshield washer fluid. He was found dead at his home, and poison was detected in his blood.

In his obituary, Najir is remembered as someone who “…had a passion for life. His bus trips to school and his bus drivers made him very happy. He also loved to eat, go swimming, read books, and the dogs and cats at his home.”

Case Status:
Mary Eileen Diehl (Mother), charged with criminal homicide, pleaded no-contest to third-degree murder, sentenced to 10 to 20 years.

Sources:
Cochranton-area woman gets 10 to 20 years in child poisoning case
Crawford woman pleads no-contest to 3rd-degree murder in adopted son’s poisoning in 2021
Trial moved to March for Crawford woman charged in poisoning of 11-year-old adopted son
Trial for alleged poisoning is postponed until March
Trial date uncertain for Crawford woman charged in boy’s fatal poisoning
Woman charged with killing disabled son had him drink washer fluid to “free him”: Police
Woman accused of fatally poisoning adopted son
State police charge Crawford County woman in poisoning death of 11-year-old adopted son
Najir William Diehl Obituary

Mason Weston

No Photo
Name: Mason Joe Weston.
Died: August 7, 2021.
Age at death: 11.
Cause of death: Homicide; battered child.
Location: Fergus Falls, Minnesota, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
When Mason was taken to the hospital with severe injuries, his attacker initially said he had fallen, but eventually told police that he had slammed Mason’s head against the wall and kicked him. Mason died in the hospital. His killer admitted that he had become angry at the boy for not washing the dishes.

Case Status:
Reggie Bethel (Mother’s boyfriend), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, sentenced to 8 years 4 months to 12 1/2 years.

Source:
Otter Tail County man sentenced for beating death of boy with autism
Mason Joe Weston
Fergus Falls man charged with murdering autistic boy by slamming head into wall numerous times

Rudransh and Devansh Shankar

No Photo Name: Rudransh Shankar.
Age at death: 6.
Disability: Kidney disease.

Name: Devansh Shankar.
Age at death: 4.
Disability: Unspecified health problems.

Died: August 6, 2021.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: Sangareddy, Telangana, India.

Details:
On the day of their deaths, brothers Rudransh and Devansh didn’t want to take their medication, according to their mother. Angered, their mother allegedly strangled them to death before jumping into a lake. She was rescued by fishermen and arrested.

Case Status:
Jyotsna (Mother), arrested.

Source:
Upset with kids illness, mother strangles them in Telangana’s Sangareddy | Hyderabad News – Times of India
Telangana: Upset with their illness, mom kills two sons in Sangareddy | Hyderabad News – Times of India
Woman strangles two children to death, later jumps into stream in Sangareddy
Telangana: Disturbed over sons’ chronic illness, woman strangles them to death, then attempts suicide

Zoey Chafer

Name: Zoey Elizabeth Chafer.
Died: July 28, 2021.
Age at death: 4.
Cause of death: Ethanol poisoning.
Location: Hayward, Wisconsin, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
Zoey, who ate through a feeding tube, died from acute alcohol poisoning. Police, who arrested her mother and her mother’s boyfriend, say that Zoey was killed with alcohol administered through her feeding tube.

Zoey’s obituary says she “enjoyed watching Sponge Bob Square Pants; laying in the sun, going on walks, watching her sister play, and listening to music.”

Case Status:
Domenic Falkner (Mother’s partner), charged with first-degree intentional homicide, physical abuse of a child, and chronic neglect of a child.
Samantha Smith (Mother), charged with chronic neglect of a child and physical abuse of a child.

Sources:
Couple Charged in Death of Special Needs Child Whose Blood Alcohol Level Was More Than Seven Times the Legal Limit
Criminal Charges Filed Against Couple In Death Of 4-Year-Old | Recent News
Hayward couple charged with homicide, neglect, abuse in 4-year-old’s death; BAC at ‘lethal’ level
Hayward, WI couple charged with homicide in death of 4-year-old
Zoey Elizabeth Chafer Obituary

Kaysen Blackshear

Name: Kaysen Blackshear.
Died: July 19, 2021.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Medical neglect.
Location: Springdale, Ohio, USA.
Disability: A genetic disorder that causes seizures and developmental delay.

Details:
Kaysen was brought to the hospital with brain swelling, injuries to her face and back, and a chipped tooth. Her mother allegedly delayed seeking medical help for her for some time before she finally called for an ambulance. Kaysen died in the hospital. Police say her mother admitted to withholding food, water, and medical care in the hope that Kaysen would die.

Kaysen was active and inquisitive and would chew on anything she could get her hands on.

Case Status:
Bryce Foster (Mother), pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, sentenced to 3 years.

Source:
Woman sentenced for involuntary manslaughter in 5-year-old daughter’s death
Springdale mom charged in 5-year-old daughter’s death
Wish List: Single mother seeks car for daughter’s medical needs.
Police: Charges filed against mother in death of Springdale 5-year-old
Coroner: 5-year-old girl dies of apparent homicide, Springdale police investigating
Police investigating after 5-year-old girl dies from injuries
Wish List: Mother seeks vehicle to ease travel to daughter’s medical appointments
Springdale 5-year-old arrived ‘non-responsive’ and injured to hospital before death

Ayan Shaikh

No Photo Name: Ayan Shaikh.
Died: June 15, 2021.
Age at death: 8.
Cause of death: Homicide.
Location: Pune, Maharashtra, India.
Disability: Global developmental delay.

Details:
Ayan and his mother Aliya were killed by his father, who then committed suicide. According to police, the couple often argued about Ayan’s disability.

Case Status:
Abid Shaikh (Father), deceased.

Source:
Woman, her son found murdered in different areas of Pune; police look for missing husband
India News | Woman-child Murder: Husband Still Missing, Multiple Probe Teams Formed
Pune woman-son murder case: Husband’s body found, suicide suspected
Pune Man’s Body Found After ‘Murder’ of Wife, 8-year-old Autistic Child
Pune: Missing man found dead days after his wife and son were murdered, cops suspect suicide

Aaliyah Artis

Name: Aaliyah Nicole Artis.
Died: June 8, 2021.
Age at death: 12.
Cause of death: Lung injury, malnutrition, poor living conditions.
Location: Xenia, Ohio, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Aaliyah’s body was found in her house, which was in such poor condition it was condemned. She died from a lung injury, complicated by poor nutrition and poor living conditions.

According to Aaliyah’s obituary, she “enjoyed watching cartoons, coloring, riding her bike, playing outside, and dancing with her sisters.”

Case Status:
Mary Artis (Mother), convicted of child endangerment; sentenced to 2 1/2 years.

Sources:
Autism Memorial: Aaliyah Artis
Ohio mom charged after 12-year-old girl dies from living in ‘deplorable’ conditions
Police: No evidence 12-year-old Greene County girl’s death purposeful; mother indicted for child endangering
Xenia police investigating 12-year-old girl’s death
Aaliyah Nicole Artis Obituary – Visitation & Funeral Information
12-year-old girl found dead at Xenia home in ‘filthy condition’
Police investigating death of 12-year-old girl
Aaliyah Artis: Reforms called for in wake of Xenia child’s death

Joseph Barney

Name: Joseph Barney.
Died: June 1, 2021.
Age at death: 8.
Cause of death: Malnutrition, battered child syndrome.
Location: Bronx, New York City, New York, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Joseph, who lived with his mother and her boyfriend, was brought to the hospital and declared dead there. His body weighed 30 pounds, less than two-thirds of what a child his age should have weighed, and showed signs of battered child syndrome.

Joseph liked watching videos of subway trains. Monkeys were his favorite animal, and his favorite foods were pizza, ice cream, candy, fruit snacks, and Capri Suns.

Case Status:
Michael Ransom (Mother’s boyfriend), charged with murder, and aggravated manslaughter of a person under 11.
Sharay Barney (Mother), charged with murder, and aggravated manslaughter of a person under 11.

Sources:
Autism Memorial: Joseph Barney
Parents Indicted on Murder, Manslaughter Charges in Alleged Starvation Death of NYC Boy
Woman and Boyfriend Charged for Death of 8-year-old Autistic Son
Bronx parents indicted in starvation death of 8-year-old boy
Mom, Boyfriend Charged in Death of 8-Year-Old Autistic Boy in the Bronx
Autism Memorial: Joseph Barney
Parents charged with murder in malnourished 8-year-old son’s death
Death of 8-year-old autistic boy in the Bronx ruled a homicide, cops say
Malnutrition probed in death of 8-year-old Bronx boy
Autistic 8-year-old Bronx boy’s death ruled a homicide, was victim of repeated beatings
Autistic NYC boy, 8, dies — possibly from severe malnutrition

Darren Henson

Name: Darren Henson.
Died: May 31, 2021.
Age at death: 9.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Louth, England, UK.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Darren’s stepfather stabbed him and his mother to death. He had grown to hate Darren and wanted to wipe out his mother’s bloodline.

Darren loved football (soccer), especially Chelsea football. He was “a happy child with a kind heart.”

Case Status:
Daniel Boulton (Stepfather), convicted of two counts of murder, sentenced to 40 years to life.

Source:
Evil Daniel Boulton’s twisted hatred for autistic boy he killed
Manhunt killer handed minimum of 40 years for murdering woman and autistic son
Child safeguarding and domestic homicide review set after double Louth murders
Man who stabbed mother, 26, and her autistic son, nine, to death is convicted | Daily Mail Online
Autism Memorial: Darren Henson
Ex-partner brutally stabbed mother and autistic son in front of baby, court told
Violent ex ‘brutally stabbed mum and autistic son to death before 24-hour manhunt’ – Plainsmen Post
Coventry gran’s tribute to boy, 9, after alleged double murder
Suspect, 29, ‘knifed to death ex-partner and her autistic son, nine’

Liam Husted

Name: Liam Husted.
Died: May 28, 2021.
Age at death: 7.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Liam’s body was found by hikers. Initially unidentified, he was called “Little Zion” until a family friend recognized his photo as that of Liam, who had gone missing along with his mother. Less than a day later, police found her and arrested her on suspicion of murder.

Liam loved to swim. He attended a school for autistic children and had a therapist to visit him at home for “behavioral issues,” but these services were suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Case Status:
Samantha Moreno Rodriguez (Mother), pleaded guilty to murder, child abuse, neglect, or endangerment resulting in substantial bodily harm, sentenced to 28 years to life.

Source:
Samantha Moreno-Rodriguez: sentenced to life in prison for murdering 7-year-old autistic son
California woman accused of killing 7-year-old son near Las Vegas sentenced to life in prison
Mom who killed 7-year-old autistic son on hike outside Las Vegas sentenced to minimum of 28 years in prison
Mother guilty of strangling 7-year-old son, dumping body in desert receives sentencing
Sentencing date set for mother charged in 7-year-old son’s murder
The murder of Liam Husted: Mother, 36, pleads guilty to strangling autistic son, 7, to death
Mom accused of strangling 7-year-old agrees to plead guilty
Mother Strangles 7-Year-Old Autistic Son, Dumps His Body In Desert
Autism Memorial: Liam Husted
Prosecutor: California mother admitted strangling special-needs son found dead in Nevada desert
California woman arrested after special-needs son’s body found in remote Nevada area
Samantha Moreno Rodriguez arrested in special needs 7 yr old son murder
Body Of John ‘Little Zion’ Doe Found Near Las Vegas Identified As Missing San Jose 7-Year-Old; Mother Wanted For Murder
California mom suspected in son’s death arrested after nationwide manhunt
Mother arrested in Denver in connection with San Jose boy’s death near Las Vegas
Mother arrested for death of son found dumped on Las Vegas hike trail
San Jose Mother Suspected of Killing 7-Year-Old Son Arrested in Denver
California mom jailed in Denver following son’s Vegas death