Category: Age: Elder

Age 60+

Jean Salter

No PhotoName: Jean Ann Salter.
Died: October 8, 2023.
Age at death: 78.
Cause of death: Strangled.
Location: Mount Maunganui, North Island, New Zealand.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Jean’s dementia was progressing, and it had been suggested that Jean should be moved to a residential facility; her husband, upset that they might be separated, strangled her with a necktie. The killer claimed that there was a suicide pact, but there is no evidence of this save for his claim, and Jean, impaired by dementia, would not have been able to consent to an assisted suicide.

Case Status:
John Alfred Salter (Husband), pleaded guilty to murder.

Sources:
Wife’s last words as husband of 60 years strangled her with a tie
‘Smell of an oily rag’: Murder of wife with Alzheimer’s shows need for more dementia support

Thérèse Brassard-Lévesque

No PhotoName: Thérèse Brassard-Lévesque.
Died: September 30, 2023.
Age at death: 79.
Cause of death: Unspecified homicide.
Location: Terrebonne, Quebec, Canada.
Disability: Alzheimer’s disease.

Details:
Thérèse and her partner were found unconscious in her room at her senior living home. Thérèse was declared dead at the scene, but her partner was taken to the hospital, where his condition improved. Police believe that Thérèse’s partner killed her and then tried to kill himself, but survived the attempt.

Case Status:
Gilles Brassard (Partner), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, sentenced to 10 1/2 years to life.

Sources:
Quebec man, 81, gets prison sentence after admitting to killing wife with Alzheimer’s disease
“I’m not an assassin” says Quebec man who killed his wife suffering from dementia
Police investigate homicide at Terrebonne, Que., seniors’ residence
Man, 81, charged in wife’s murder at Quebec seniors’ home
Woman, 79, killed at Quebec seniors residence; suspect, 81, under watch in hospital

John and Lois McCullough

Photo of an elderly couple standing outdoors. On the left is a woman in a blue dress, with pale, somewhat sunburnt skin and curly blond hair; on the left is a balding man with a fringe of white hair, light skin, and glasses, wearing a blue dress shirt and black pants.Name: John McCullough.
Age at death: 70.
Cause of death: Poisoned.
Disability: Possible autism, hypertension, type II diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia and glaucoma.

Name: Lois McCullough.
Age at death: 71.
Cause of death: Bludgeoned, stabbed.
Disability: Agoraphobia, OCD traits.

Died: September 13, 2023 (Body found; died June 18, 2019).
Location: Great Baddow, Essex, England, UK.

Details:
John and Lois lived with their daughter, who decided to kill them. She saved up prescription medicine and drugged them both, and in the morning, John was dead. Lois survived, so their daughter bludgeoned and stabbed her to death instead. She concealed the bodies for several years before a welfare check revealed that the two were dead.

John and Lois were old-fashioned, private people. John was a retired business studies lecturer who enjoyed golf; Lois loved spending time with her grandchildren.

Case Status:
Virginia McCullough (Daughter), convicted of murder, sentenced to 36 years to life.

Sources:
How Virginia McCullough murdered her parents – and lived with their bodies for four years
Virginia McCullough jailed for 36 years for murdering parents
Why Did a ‘Manipulative’ Daughter Kill Her Parents, Then Live with Their Bodies for the Next 4 Years?
Why Virginia McCullough killed her parents and lived with their bodies
Virginia McCullough case
Autism Memorial: John McCullough

Florence Brown

Photo of an older lady with pale skin and curly, short white hair; she is wearing square-rimmed glasses, a pastel purple striped blouse, and a yellow vest.Name: Florence Brown.
Died: September 12, 2023.
Age at death: 94.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Lansdale, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Florence’s husband called police to tell them he had just shot his wife. Police arrived to find Florence and her husband with gunshot wounds; Florence, who had been shot multiple times, was dead on arrival at the hospital, and her husband died later that night.

Case Status:
Stanley Brown (Husband), deceased.

Sources:
Lansdale husband, 93, killed wife, 94, in murder-suicide, Montgomery County DA says
93-year-old man kills his wife, then himself in Montgomery County murder-suicide: Police
Stanley Florence Brown Obituary – Huff & Lakjer Funeral Home, Inc. – Lansdale – 2023
Shooter and Victim Identified in Tuesday’s Murder-Suicide in Lansdale
MURDER-SUICIDE: Husband Kills 94-Year-Old Wife Then Himself In Lansdale, DA Says

Philista St. John

Name: Philista Mae St. John.
Died: September 7, 2023.
Age at death: 86.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Polson, Montana, USA.
Disability: Dementia, diabetes.

Details:
When police were called to do a welfare check on Philista, they found that she had been stabbed to death and her body hidden. They arrested her son, since he had an outstanding warrant, and later charged him with the stabbing that had caused Philista’s death when they found a note which they believe was written by Philista’s son, in which he stated that he “couldn’t do it anymore” and admitted that he had killed her.

Case Status:
Garrett Edward Vaska (Son), charged with deliberate homicide and tampering with evidence.

Sources:
Polson man charged with stabbing his mother with dementia to death
Polson man charged with killing mother who had dementia
Man accused of killing mother in Polson pleads not guilty
Philista Mae St. John Obituary 2023

Cheryl Mansoff

Photo of a woman with short auburn hair and pale, sunburnt skin, wearing a flowered dress.Name: Cheryl Lee Mansoff.
Died: September 2, 2023.
Age at death: 63.
Cause of death: Beaten.
Location: Brandon, Manitoba, Canada.
Disability: Leg amputee, diabetes.

Details:
Cheryl lived with a man who helped her by doing errands and yardwork. When police were called to their home, they found her dead; she had been violently assaulted.

Cheryl was an avid reader. She leaves behind three children and three grandchildren.

Case Status:
Stephen Teetaert (Caregiver, tenant), charged with second-degree murder.

Sources:
Neighbours, uncle talk about homicide
Obituary of Cheryl Lee Mansoff | Brockie Donovan Funeral & Cremation Services

Martha Rutledge

No PhotoName: Martha Rutledge.
Died: August 14, 2023.
Age at death: 99.
Cause of death: Starvation, untended bedsores.
Location: Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA.
Disability: Mobility impaired.

Details:
Martha was found dead at home. Her body was very thin, and she was covered in multiple severe bedsores. Her daughters, with whom she lived, are accused of not providing any medical care to their mother. Martha also had a lot of alcohol and THC in her system when she died; unable to move from her bed, she would not have been able to ingest these on her own. She had not seen a doctor in ten years.

Case Status:
Martha Carroll Rutledge (Daughter), charged with abuse or neglect of a vulnerable person resulting in death.
and Nancy Rutledge (Daughter), charged with abuse or neglect of a vulnerable person resulting in death.

Sources:
Rock Hill sisters granted bond for mother’s death whose body has ‘chronic open wound’
Police: Rock Hill woman died from lack of medical care, 2 daughters charged
Martha Rutledge Obituary (2023) – Rock Hill, SC – The Herald

Connie Smith

No PhotoName: Connie Smith.
Died: August 13, 2023.
Age at death: 76.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
Disability: Frail elder.

Details:
Connie was fatally shot in her own home. Police say her son, who lived with her, confessed to killing her.

Case Status:
Shane Smith (Son), charged with first-degree murder.

Sources:
Update: Oklahoma City man charged with first-degree murder in mother’s shooting death
Man arrested after shooting, killing elderly mother in NW OKC, police say
OKC man booked for murder of elder mother
Man Arrested, Accused Of Shooting Mother To Death In NW Oklahoma City

Parambuliyil Thankamani

Photo of an older Indian woman with long black hair and light brown skin; she has a red bindi on her forehead and is wearing white and orange clothing.Name: Parambuliyil Thankamani.
Died: August 7, 2023.
Age at death: 80.
Cause of death: Blunt head and neck injury.
Location: Maniyarankudy, Kerala, India.
Disability: Unspecified; bedridden.

Details:
Parambuliyil was brought to the hospital with injuries to her head and neck, and lived for a week before dying from her wounds. Police say her son, angry that she wouldn’t eat the food he was trying to feed her, slammed her head against her cot and hit her with the glass he was holding, and that he later confessed to doing so after being questioned.

Case Status:
Sanjeev (Son), charged with murder.

Sources:
Idukki man held for murdering 80-year-old bedridden mother

Jean Morley

Photo of an older woman with curly light-brown hair and fair skin, wearing a blue print dress, smiling for the camera.Name: Jean Morley.
Died: July 31, 2023.
Age at death: 92.
Cause of death: Suffocation.
Location: Fisher, New South Wales, Australia.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Jean’s husband suffocated her because he thought they had “lived too long”.

Case Status:
Donald Morley (Husband), pleaded guilty to murder, sentenced to 9 years in prison and must serve at least half before parole. Expected to die in prison because of his age and health.

Sources:
Brit who suffocated his wife in ‘mercy killing’ is jailed for 9 years
Pensioner, 93, who suffocated dementia-stricken wife in ‘mercy killing’ jailed
Brit, 93, who killed wife, 92, is jailed for nine years in Australia
Brit who suffocated his wife in ‘mercy killing’ is jailed for 9 years
92-year-old Donald Morley will plead guilty to murder of his dementia-suffering wife, Jean
Murder accused withdraws bail application over alleged suffocation of Jean Morley
Elderly man charged with murder after allegedly suffocating wife