Age: Elder – Page 55 – Disability Day of Mourning

Tomislav Svetina

No Photo Name: Tomislav Svetina.
Died: July 8, 2010.
Age at death: 74.
Cause of death: Traumatic injury.
Location: Doncaster, Victoria, Australia.
Disability: Frail elder; bowel cancer survivor, heart disease, gout, tremor.

Details:
Tomislav told a family friend that he was afraid of his son, so he kept a hatchet by his bed for protection. His son cut the power to the house, entered his father’s bedroom, grabbed the hatchet from his father, and killed him with it. Though Tomislav had been violent toward his wife in the past, the court determined that he posed no threat to his son in his frail state, and that killing him with the hatchet had been a disproportionate response.

Before retirement, Tomislav worked as an electrician.

Case Status:
Zlatko “Boris” Svetina, convicted of defensive homicide, sentenced to 7-11 years in prison.

Sources:
R v Svetina
Son jailed for killing dad with axe

Beryl Webb

No Photo Name: Beryl Webb.
Died: May 14, 2010.
Age at death: 75.
Cause of death: Smothered.
Location: Wadsley, Sheffield, UK.
Disability: Fibromyalgia, arthritis, histrionic personality disorder, cancer survivor.

Details:
Beryl’s husband smothered her.

Case status:
George Webb (Husband), convicted of manslaughter, sentenced to 2 years; sentenced to 12 months, suspended, on appeal.

Source:
Man killed disabled wife
Pensioner who smothered wife in ‘mercy killing’ is freed from jail by appeal judges | Daily Mail Online

Manuel Reyes and Rita Morales

Photo of Manuel Reyes. He has tan skin and gray hair, and is wearing a blue sweater and white shirt. Name: Manuel Reyes.
Age at death: 85.
Disability: Double amputee (Legs).

Photo of Rita Morales. She is an elderly woman with gray hair and light-brown skin, wearing a brown collared shirt. Name: Rita Morales.
Age at death: 87.
Disability: Elderly disabled.

Location: Canoga Park, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Died: April 30, 2010.
Cause of death: Traumatic injury.

Details:
Manuel and Rita were both killed by their caregiver, who was Rita’s son and Manuel’s nephew. They were bludgeoned to death with a hammer; Rita was also stabbed.

Case status:
Arthur Reyes Morales (Son, Nephew), pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder, sentenced to 30 years to life and must serve at least 17 years.

Source:
Judge finds Canoga Park man was sane when he killed his elderly mother, uncle
Hammer killer sane when he murdered 87-year-old mom, 85-year-old double-amputee uncle
Manuel Reyes, 85
Rita Morales, 87

Willie Henderson

Name: Willie Henderson.
Died: January 22, 2010.
Age at death: 60.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: North Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Disability: Blind, mobility impaired.

Details:
When Willie Henderson needed help around the house, his godson used to act as a handyman.

Willie’s godson shot him in the back of the head. In court, he claimed that it had been self-defense, even though there were no signs of a struggle.

Willie Henderson was a Vietnam war veteran.

Case status:
Billy Ray James (Godson), pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter; spent six years in prison before release.

Source:
Willie Henderson Obituary
Handyman to stand trial in North Las Vegas shooting death
Ex-felon found guilty of 2010 slaying of North Las Vegas man
Hung jury in re-trial of North Las Vegas murder case
Murder case tried three times headed for mistrial, judge says
Judge declares mistrial after man’s third trial in North Las Vegas murder case
Man waits for release in Vegas killing after 3 trials, 1 plea deal, 6 years in prison

Jimmy Phillips

No Photo Name: James “Jimmy” Phillips.
Died: January 11, 2010.
Age at death: 76.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Gulf Hills, Mississippi, USA.
Disability: Paraplegic.

Details:
Jimmy and his wife Joanne, 70, were both killed by their son in a double murder-suicide. Jimmy was shot four times in the face; Joanne was beaten to death.

They left behind one surviving daughter.

Case status:
Sammy Phillips (Son), deceased.

Source:
He killed his parents then took his own life. Neighbors want their property cleared.
Jackson County Sheriff: Alcohol, drugs factor in double homicide-suicide case in St. Martin
Murder/suicide case to be sent to grand jury

Marie-Nicole Rainville

Black and white photo of Marie-Nicole Rainville, a middle-aged woman. She has light skin and dark hair cut short; she is smiling broadly. Name: Marie-Nicole Rainville.
Died: November 12, 2009.
Age at death: 71.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Quebec City, Canada.
Disability: Stroke.

Details:
Marie-Nicole was shot by her husband.

Case status:
Jacques Delisle (Husband), first-degree murder, sentenced to 25 years to life.

Source:
Jacques Delisle | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers
‘Destroyed, but not guilty,’ says judge accused of murdering his wife
Bail denied for ex-judge waiting for ministerial review of murder conviction

Helena Weinstein

No Photo Name: Helena Weinstein.
Died: September 23, 2009.
Age at death: 71.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: New Rochelle, New York, USA.
Disability: Dementia, chronic illness.

Details:
Helena’s husband tried to suffocate her with a pillow; when that didn’t work, he shot her instead.

Case status:
Paul Weinstein (Husband), pleaded guilty to manslaughter, sentenced to 7-8 years in prison. Died while incarcerated.

Source:
Husband kills ailing wife in mercy murder in New Rochelle, police say | ABC7 New York
Mercy killings: After Westchester Medical Center deaths, a look at similar deaths
78-Year-Old New Rochelle Man Pleads Guilty to Killing Wife
Westchester Man Gets Prison For Killing Wife
Westchester Man Gets Prison For Killing Wife

Phyllis Fish

No Photo Name: Phyllis Fish.
Died: September 20, 2009.
Age at death: 88.
Cause of death: Gunshot.
Location: Laguna Woods, California, USA.
Disability: Stroke, recent cancer diagnosis, dementia.

Details:
Phyllis’s husband drugged her with morphine, then shot her and himself in the head.

Case status:
James Fish (Husband); charged with manslaughter, but died before he could be tried.

Source:
Doctor, 90, kills wife, tries to commit suicide
“Mercy Killing”: When Love & Law Conflict
DA dismisses mercy killing case after husband dies
Retired doctor suspected of killing wife, shooting self, dies

Sherre Neal-Lypps

No Photo Name: Sherre Neal-Lypps.
Died: June 23, 2009.
Age at death: 62.
Cause of death: Drowning.
Location: Morro Bay, California, USA.
Disability: Chronic pain, depression, sciatica.

Details:
Sherre was strangled and drowned in her bathtub. Her death was disguised as a suicide, complete with forged suicide notes that claimed she was tired of being in pain. Five years after Sherre died, her husband was arrested because samples taken from her fingernails contained his DNA.

Case status:
James Victor Lypps (Husband), charged with first-degree murder, acquitted.

Source:
Nipomo man arrested 5 years after wife found dead in Morro Bay
‘No way’ death of James Lypps’ wife was a suicide, coroner says
Pathologist testifies Sherre Neal-Lypps’ death was a homicide
Nipomo man killed wife for her Social Security checks, prosecution suggests
Judge to consider removing DA’s Office from Morro Bay murder case
Judge orders Morro Bay murder suspect released
Former Morro Bay man not guilty of murder in death of his wife, jury finds

Lloyd Yarbrough

Name: Lloyd Yarbrough.
Died: May 27, 2009.
Age at death: 62.
Cause of death: Prescription drug overdose.
Location: Austin, Texas, USA.
Disability: Brain injury from encephalitis.

Details:
Lloyd’s wife poisoned him with a prescription drug overdose.

Case status:
Kim Yarbrough (Wife); pled guilty to injury to a disabled person; sentenced to 10 years probation and 400 hours of community service.

Source:
After ending husband’s life, woman tries to go on with hers