Remembering the Disabled Murdered by Caregivers
Name: Luc Baeyens.
Died: July 29, 2015.
Age at death: 48.
Cause of death: Smothered.
Location: Tremelo, Flanders, Belgium.
Disability: Down syndrome.
Details:
Luc was smothered by his stepfather.
Case status:
Aloïs De Smedt (Stepfather), convicted of murder, sentenced to 12 years; eligible for release in 3 years.
Source:
Twaalf jaar voor moord op gehandicapte stiefzoon
Tranen maken even Plaats voor Lach op Afscheid Luc Baeyens (48)
Name: Maxwell J. Peterson.
Died: July 21, 2015.
Age at death: 16.
Cause of death: Traumatic injury, blood loss.
Location: Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Disability: Angelman syndrome.
Details:
Maxwell’s father took him to a park and killed him by slitting his throat and shooting him with a nail gun. Then he killed himself.
Maxwell liked playing basketball.
Case status:
Theodore R. Peterson (Father), deceased.
Source:
Medical examiner: Father of Token Creek homicide victim has died
Son identified, father held in killing at Token Creek County Park
Name: Andeng (Last name unknown).
Died: July 19, 2015.
Age at death: Adult.
Cause of death: Abuse.
Location: Bulacan, Philippines.
Disability: Mental illness; recent surgery; wheelchair user.
Details:
Andeng’s sister was videotaped by a passer-by, slapping and berating her on the street as she sat in a wheelchair. Days later, she was dead, and police say that abuse played a significant role in her death.
Case status:
Her sister, under investigation.
Source:
Wheelchair user suffers vicious assault at the hands of older sister, police say
Name: Meredith Jessie.
Died: July 18, 2015.
Age at death: 6.
Cause of death: Stabbed.
Location: Lakeland, Florida, USA.
Disability: Diagnosed (possibly incorrectly) with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Details:
Meredith’s mother was afraid that her fiancé was going to leave her. She saw Meredith as an impediment to her relationship with her fiance. Twice she had Meredith hospitalized for psychiatric issues, though it’s unknown whether Meredith actually had a mental illness or whether her mother was just obsessed with the idea that she did.
Meredith’s mother stabbed Meredith to death; she also killed her father.
Case status:
Cheyanne Jessie (Mother), convicted of two counts of murder, sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Source:
Cheyanne Jessie sentenced to life in prison for murder of father and daughter
Polk jury begins deliberations in murder trial of Cheyanne Jessie, Lakeland woman accused of killing her daughter, 6, and dad
Family wants death penalty for Lakeland woman accused of…
Name: Jessie McCrimmon.
Died: July 15, 2015.
Age at death: 43.
Cause of death: Septic shock, multiple organ failure.
Location: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA.
Disability: Spina bifida.
Details:
Jessie’s girfriend neglected him so badly that when he was rushed to the hospital, he needed immediate amputation of both legs because of infected pressure sores. But the amputations failed to save his life, and he died of multiple organ failure and septic shock.
Case status:
Stacey Ann Cunnius (Girlfriend, paid caregiver), pleaded no contest to third-degree murder and neglect of care for a dependent person; sentenced to 4-10 years in prison and ten years of probation.
Source:
Caregiver charged with homicide in death of man with maggot-filled foot wounds
Woman charged after man with maggot-filled foot wounds dies
Reading woman charged in death of man in her care
Pennsylvania woman charged after man with maggot-filled foot wounds dies
Reading woman pleads no contest in death of her boyfriend
Woman gets prison in death of man with maggot-filled wound
Woman sentenced in death of man with maggot-filled wounds
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
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’
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?
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
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