Age Categories – Page 127 – Disability Day of Mourning

Baby Boy

No Photo Name: Never named.
Died: July 15, 2015.
Age at death: 3 days.
Cause of death: Potassium chloride poisoning.
Location: Chongming, Shanghai, China.
Disability: Cleft lip.

Details:
This newborn boy, who may not have been given a name, was killed by his grandfather because he had a cleft lip. His grandfather went to a doctor to get potassium chloride and instructions on how to use it, and then injected the substance into the newborn boy’s head, killing him.

Case status:
The baby’s grandfather, surnamed Peng, sentenced to seven years.
A doctor surnamed Zhu, who supplied the potassium chloride, sentenced to five years.

Source:
Chinese man kills grandson for being born with a cleft lip
Cleft Lip Stigma Cost Infant His Life

Lala Mardigan

Photo of Lala Mardigan. She is a young woman with dark brown skin, wearing a yellow shirt; she has headphones in her ears. Name: Lala Mardigan.
Died: Late July 2015.
Age at death: 20.
Cause of death: Malnutrition, infection.
Location: Wadeye, Northern Territory, Australia.
Disability: Lupus, intellectual disability.

Details:
Lala lived in a remote part of Australia. She had spent some time in foster care, but returned to her mother at age 18 even though her mother had told the health service she could not care for her. Despite a case worker’s warning that Lala was not being cared for, the health department did not assign her a guardian. At 20, Lala died from malnutrition and infection, a victim of neglect.

Case status:
No charges.

Source:
Twenty-year old’s death highlights the people in remote communities falling through the gaps
Aboriginal woman would be alive ‘if people in power cared’

Quincey Pollard

Name: William “Quincey” Pollard.
Died: July 11, 2015.
Age at death: 17 months.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Lakewood Ranch, Florida, USA.
Disability: Developmental delay, leukemia (Claimed).

Details:
After Quincey died from blunt-force head trauma, his father, accused of murder, explained the bruises on his body by claiming that Quincey was clumsy and developmentally delayed and had leukemia.

Case status:
Richard Williams (Father), convicted of second-degree murder, sentenced to life.

Source:
Man faces up to life in prison for murder in toddler’s death
Inmate Population Information Detail
Jury hears toddler’s mother describe the last morning before his death
Was Quincey Pollard killed? Or was he just clumsy?

Norma Ludlam

Name: Norma Ludlam.
Died: July 6, 2015.
Age at death: 75.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Eli Waters, Queensland, Australia.
Disability: Frail elder.

Details:
Norma was severely beaten by her neighbor and caregiver. She was taken to the hospital alive, but survived only two days before succumbing to head injuries.

Case Status:
Frederick Ronald Sinfield (Neighbor, caregiver), convicted of murder, sentenced to life.

Sources:
Hervey Bay carer denies murdering frail friend | The Courier Mail
Man charged with 75-year-old Norma’s brutal murder
The Queen v Sinfield (No 2) [2019] QSCPR 5
Man accused of murdering 75yo Fraser Coast woman remanded in custody

Anne Schmidt

No Photo Name: Anne Schmidt.
Died: July 5, 2015.
Age at death: 73.
Cause of death: Fire.
Location: Vineland, Ontario, Canada.
Disability: Unspecified; wheelchair user.

Details:
Police had been called to Anne Schmidt’s home because of a domestic disturbance. When they got there, they found that her son had poured gasoline all over the living room; and when an officer approached, Anne’s son ignited the gasoline. Anne was in a wheelchair and unable to escape the flames; she and her son both died. The police officer who had tried to help her was badly burned, but recovered.

Case status:
Karl Schmidt (Son), deceased.

Source:
Vineland explosion ruled murder-suicide
Officers hailed for ‘heroic efforts’ in Vineland explosion
NRPS officers heroic acts recognized by SIU
Obituary of Anne and Karl Schmidt
Long road ahead for burned police officer

Matthew Hoag

Name: Matthew Paul Hoag.
Died: June 30, 2015.
Age at death: 21.
Cause of death: Methanol poisoning.
Location: Sylvan Township, Michingan, USA.
Disability: Cerebral palsy.

Details:
When this young man drank windshield wiper fluid, his mother refused to seek medical treatment for him. He died from poisoning.

Case status:
Paulette Redding (Mother), pleaded no contest to third-degree child abuse, sentenced to 2 years of probation and 50 hours of community service.

Source:
Obituary of Matthew Paul Hoag
Mother charged in death of disabled son who drank windshield wiper fluid
Mother in court in death of disabled son who drank windshield fluid
Michigan Mom Gets Probation In Adult Son’s Wiper Fluid Death

L’Naya White

Name: L’Naya White.
Died: June 26, 2015.
Age at death: 6 months.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Rapid City, South Dakota, USA.
Disability: Unspecified.

Details:
L’Naya was raped and beaten by her mother’s boyfriend and died of a head injury caused by shaken baby syndrome. However, during trial her killer argued that he had merely left her on the couch, which was dangerous because of her frailty due to her “serious disability”, and she had fallen off and hit her head on the floor. Eventually he was allowed to admit to being negligent, plead guilty to second-degree manslaughter, and receive a sentence of only 4 years in prison.

Case status:
Kristopher Houchin (Mother’s boyfriend), initially charged with rape, child abuse, and murder. Pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter; sentenced to 10 years consisting of 4 years in prison and a 6-year suspended sentence.

Source:
Rapid City man sentenced after admitting he’s responsible for the death of a six month old girl
Candlelight Vigil For L’Naya Love Police Discover Shocking Reason Behind 6-Month-Old Baby’s Death Baby’s Violent Death Hits Deep In Rapid City Community Rapid City Man Sentenced In Death Of 6-Month-Old Girl Monsters Among Us: Kristopher Houchin charged with the rape and murder of 6-month-old L’Naya Love White Rapid City man charged with murder of 6-month-old girl Obituary for L’Naya Love White – Rapid City, SD
Kristopher Houchin Charged With The Rape And Murder Of 6-month-old Girl
Rapid City man sentenced to prison for baby’s death
Baby’s Violent Death Hits Deep In Rapid City Community

Forgiveness Sibanda

No Photo Name: Forgiveness Sibanda.
Died: June 21, 2015.
Age at death: 3.
Cause of death: Head injury.
Location: Mafohla village, Umguza, Zimbabwe.
Disability: Unspecified.

Details:
Forgiveness’s father had been told by some prophets that his son was a goblin. He believed them, and hated Forgiveness because he could not see himself “raising a goblin”.

While Forgiveness’s mother was at the canal doing the laundry, his father hit him on the head and killed him. When his mother came back, his father threatened to kill her too if she reported the murder, and put her on a bus to tell her mother that the child had died of natural causes. But Forgiveness’s mother went to the police instead, and the toddler’s body was found buried in the backyard.

Case status:
Jeremiah Filbert Sibanda (Father), convicted of murder with intent, sentenced to 25 years.

Source:
Father Kills Disabled Son (3)
Parents Kill Own Disabled Son
Man kills disabled son, buries body
Killer dad jailed for 25 years

Cheryl Young

Photo of Cheryl Young, a middle-aged woman with fair skin and long black hair. Name: Cheryl Young.
Died: June 16, 2015.
Age at death: 55.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Peabody, Massachusetts, USA.
Disability: Bipolar disorder.

Details:
Cheryl’s boyfriend stabbed her to death in front of her five-year-old granddaughter, claiming that she had threatened the child because of her bipolar disorder. But the girl testified that Cheryl’s boyfriend was lying and that her mother had never tried to hurt her.

Case status:
Brandon Hoar (Boyfriend), convicted of voluntary manslaughter, sentenced to 10-11 years.

Source:
Hoar gets 10-11 years in 2015 Peabody homicide
Man convicted of voluntary manslaughter in stabbing death
Peabody man guilty of manslaughter in stabbing death
Peabody’s Brandon Hoar ordered held without bail in murder of Cheryl Young
Child to testify in murder trial
Brandon Hoar murder trial
Death investigation underway in Peabody
Cheryl A. (Coates) Young Obituary – Peabody, Massachusetts

Debra Mae Shelton

Photo of Debra Mae Shelton, a middle-aged woman with brown hair and pale skin. She has a round face and is smiling slightly. Name: Debra Mae Shelton.
Died: June 14, 2015.
Age at death: 61.
Cause of death: Complications of untreated abscess.
Location: Carleton, Michigan, USA.
Disability: Diabetes, chronic illness.

Details:
Debra Mae had been badly neglected when she was brought in to the hospital. She died from complications of high blood sugar and an untreated abscess that had caused infection to spread throughout her body.

Case status:
Robert G. Shelton (Husband), pleaded no contest to second-degree vulnerable adult abuse, sentenced to 5 years probation.

Source:
Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) – Offender Profile
Carleton man pleads in wife’s death
Debra Shelton’s Obituary
Debra Shelton
Woman who weighed 550lbs had live MAGGOTS living on her skin
‘He did all he could’: Friend defends Carleton man in jail