Age: Child – Page 8 – Disability Day of Mourning

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

9-year-old boy

No Photo Name Unknown.
Died: April 21, 2021.
Age at death: 9.
Cause of death: Drowning.
Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
This 9-year-old boy lived with his father in a house with an old, dirty swimming pool out back. There was no fence around the pool, nor safety locks on the door to the outside. Child protective services has reported that he had once been found wandering alone outside.

On the day he died, the boy’s father reported that he had left the back door open, and the boy had fallen into the pool. Instead of calling emergency services, he called the child’s mother, and then only called emergency services when she told him to do so. At first reluctant to retrieve the child from the pool because he was afraid of water and could not swim, he finally fished him out with a rake and did CPR. The boy was declared brain-dead at the hospital.

Case Status:
Gareth Grant (Father), pleaded no contest to aggravated manslaughter; sentenced to one year of community control and five years of probation.

Source:
Port St. Lucie man enters plea deal sparing him prison time in drowning of 9-year-old son
Port St. Lucie Police Detectives Arrest Man for Aggravated Manslaughter of a Child in Drowning Death of His Son
Father jailed on aggravated manslaughter of a child charge after son’s death in Port St. Lucie
Man arrested in connection with son’s drowning death in Port St. Lucie
Dad arrested for manslaughter after 9-year-old autistic son found at bottom of pool
Port St. Lucie man charged with manslaughter in autistic son’s drowning
Autism Memorial: 9-year-old boy

Jax Ponomarenko

Name: Jax Ponomarenko.
Died: March 25, 2021.
Age at death: 5.
Cause of death: Beaten with baseball bat.
Location: Parma, Ohio, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Jax’s father called 911, saying, “I’ve killed my son,” and claimed he had been hearing voices. He then described how he had beaten the boy to death with a baseball bat.

Jax used a tablet to communicate.

Case Status:
Matthew Ponomarenko (Father), pleaded guilty to aggravated murder, kidnapping, and child endangerment; sentenced to 45 years to life.

Source:
Parma father who beat 5-year-old son to death with baseball bat avoids death penalty, will spend life in prison
Autism Memorial: Jax Ponomarenko
Man Pleads Not Guilty After 911 Call Shows Alleged Confession in Baseball Bat Murder of 5-Year-Old Son
Matthew J Ponomarenko: Parma dad beats autistic son with baseball bat, calls 911: ‘I’m hearing voices’
5-year-old boy killed in Parma, boy’s father arrested, police say
Matthew Ponomarenko beats autistic son, Jax, 5, to death w/ baseball bat
GRAPHIC: ‘I just killed my son after hearing voices,’ Parma, Ohio dad tells 911 dispatcher
Ohio dad admits killing autistic 5-year-old son with baseball bat

Janevive Adienge

Photo Unavailable Name: Janevive Adienge.
Died: February 25, 2021.
Age at death: Child.
Cause of death: Poisoning.
Location: Homa Bay, Kenya.
Disability: Unspecified.

Details:
Janeveve’s uncle told her mother that he was signing Janeveve up for some help from a charity, but then he instead signed Janeveve and her mother up for a life-insurance policy, with himself as the beneficiary. A year later, one of her uncle’s friends distracted her mother with some forms that he said she needed to fill out to get assistance; while her mother was busy, he gave Janeveve poison. Janeveve’s mother called for help, but it arrived too late for the girl, who died. The killer and an associate were both convicted of murder, but the judge found that, although the uncle had been involved in the plot, there was insufficient evidence to charge him.

Case Status:
Lucas Odhiambo Okello (Uncle), not charged.
Kevin Ogot (Killer), convicted of murder.
Moses Omondi Sumba (Accomplice), convicted of murder.

Sources:
Two found guilty of killing disabled child for insurance claim
Two found guilty of killing disabled child for insurance claim