Age Categories – Page 150 – Disability Day of Mourning

Shamim Nalwoga

No Photo Name: Shamim Nalwoga.
Died: December 17, 2012.
Age at death: Minor.
Cause of death: Sharp force trauma.
Location: Lukuli-Makindye, Kampala, Uganda.
Disability: Paralysis in one hand and one leg.

Details:
Shamim’s grandmother and half-brother took her from her bed and kidnapped her to see a “traditional healer”, saying they would cure the girl’s disability. They fed Shamim soil and paraffin, and eventually killed her by slashing and cutting off parts of her body.

Case status:
Hanifa Namuyanja (Grandmother), convicted of murder, sentenced to 15 years in jail.
Hussein Lukenge (half-brother), convicted of murder, sentenced to 32 years in jail.
Hadijja Nasaka (Healer), acquitted.

Source:
Uganda v Namuyanja & Anor (Criminal Session Case-2013/292) [2016] UGHCCRD 95 (28 January 2016); | Ulii
82-year-old woman gets 15-years in jail over murder of grandchild
82-Year-Old Woman Found Guilty for Murdering Grandchild :
Hearing of Shamim ritual murder case to start

Melissa Stoddard

Name: Melissa Stoddard.
Died: December 17, 2012.
Age at death: 11.
Cause of death: Asphyxia.
Location: Sarasota, Florida, USA.
Disability: Autism.

Details:
Melissa suffocated in the restraints her family routinely used to tie her to her bed.

Case status:
Misty Stoddard (Stepmother); convicted of first-degree murder; sentenced to life without parole.
Kenneth Stoddard (Father); aggravated manslaughter, aggravated child abuse; sentenced to 65 years.

Source:
Autism Memorial: Melissa Stoddard
Before Melissa Stoddard died here, abuse in North Carolina
Sarasota man Kenneth Stoddard arrested for hog-tying 11-year-old daughter Melissa, who later died
Misty Stoddard arrested for child abuse after death of autistic stepdaughter Melissa Stoddard
Trial set in abuse death of autistic Fla. girl
Woman Guilty of Killing Autistic Stepdaughter

Lucie Goudreau

Name: Lucie Goudreau.
Died: November 27, 2012.
Age at death: 53.
Cause of death: Burning.
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Disability: Multiple sclerosis.

Details:
Lucie was diagnosed with progressive MS in her thirties, and when she eventually needed care, her husband helped her. But he died of cancer, and Lucie’s care was left to her son, who routinely mistreated her.

Lucie’s son took out several life insurance policies on his mother, then lit her bed on fire and left her to die in the blaze, knowing her mobility impairment would keep her from escaping on her own. When asked why he had done it, he said he “needed the money”.

Case Status:
Rene Goudreau (Son), convicted of first-degree murder; granted new trial on appeal; convicted of first-degree murder on second trial; sentenced to life.

Source:
Ottawa man convicted of first-degree murder for a second time in mother’s 2012 death
Man convicted of murder in mother’s arson death wins new trial | Ottawa Citizen
Man lit fire to kill MS-stricken mother: Crown

Andrea Ruth

Portrait photo of Andrea Ruth, a girl with brown skin and short, curly hair in a hairband. Name: Andrea Ruth.
Died: November 24, 2012.
Age at death: 12.
Cause of death: Sepsis.
Location: Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Disability: Multiple medical problems.

Details:
Andrea had been neglected so badly that her legs were scheduled to be amputated because of gangrene. However, her father did not take her for surgery and did not take her to the doctor. She eventually died of blood poisoning.

Case status:
Errol Johnson (Father), convicted of aggravated child neglect and criminally negligent homicide; sentenced to 22 years in prison.
Raven Ruth (Mother), pleaded guilty to aggravated child abuse and second degree murder; sentenced to 25 years.
Chasara Jones (Health care worker), pleaded guilty to aggravated child abuse, sentenced to 13 years 6 months.

Source:
Home Health Care Worker Sentenced In Death Of Bedridden 12-Year-Old
Father and caregiver of disabled Tenn. girl who died from gangrene, bedsores charged with murder
Mother indicted in 12-year-old daughter’s death

David Mueller

Name: David Mueller.
Died: November 16, 2012.
Age at death: 52.
Cause of death: Smothered.
Location: Prescott, Arizona, USA.
Disability: ALS.

Details:
David had ALS, which is a degenerative disorder, and was setting his affairs in order in preparation for death. David’s wife began an affair with a man she had asked to help her care for David. Then she and her lover murdered David by smothering him with plastic bags and a pillow to “make [his death] quicker.” The murder may have also been financially motivated, stemming from a disagreement over the recipients of David’s life insurance policy.

Case status:
Cynthia Jane Mueller (Wife), convicted of first-degree murder, conspiracy, fraud, and unlawful use of power of attorney; sentenced to life without parole.
Charles Todd (Wife’s boyfriend), pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, sentenced to 16 years, released after 4 years.

Source:
David Mueller Murder: Where Are Charles Todd and Cynthia Mueller Now?
Man pleads guilty in death of woman’s husband
Murder of David Mueller by wife Cynthia and her lover Charles Todd profiled on ID
Cynthia Mueller trial highlights victim’s financial plan
Prescott woman on trial for killing bed-ridden husband
Prescott Woman Found Guilty In The Death Of Her Husband – KAFF News
Arizona co-defendant in husband murder case sentenced to prison

Peyton Rowe

Photo of Peyton Rowe, a newborn infant wrapped in a blanket. Name: Peyton Rowe.
Died: November 12, 2012.
Age at death: 6 weeks.
Cause of death: Fatal abuse.
Location: Visalia, California, USA.
Disability: Turner syndrome.

Details:
Peyton’s father had been beating her since she was born. At 6 weeks old, she died from her injuries.

Case status:
Aaron Rowe (Father), convicted of second-degree murder, sentenced to 18 years to life.
Courtney Rowe (Mother), pleaded no contest to child abuse, sentenced to 4 years probation.

Source:
Visalia mother Courtney Johnson charged in death of baby daughter gets 4 years’ probation
Visalia man convicted of killing his daughter sentenced to 18 years to life in prison – ABC30 Fresno
Father, 23, could face death penalty for ‘beating his handicapped newborn daughter to death after torturing her for WEEKS’

Isaac Brothers-Bartholomew

Photo of Isaac Brothers-Bartholomew, an infant boy swaddled in a floral blanket, with a feeding tube in his nose. Name: Isaac Brothers-Bartholomew.
Died: November 6, 2012.
Age at death: 18 months.
Cause of death: Malnutrition.
Location: Vermilion, Ohio, USA.
Disability: Tube fed; multiple medical problems.

Details:
Isaac’s parents starved him to death. He and his other disabled siblings were often left in the care of an 11-year-old boy, who could only give them bottles to drink from; but because they could not swallow well, the children starved. After Isaac’s death, his siblings were rescued and placed in foster care.

Case status:
Adrienne Bartholomew (Mother), pleaded guilty to child endangerment and patient endangerment, sentenced to 5 years.
James Brothers (Father), pleaded guilty to child endangerment and patient endangerment, sentenced to 6 years.
Isaac’s estate is suing the state.

Source:
Baby Isaac’s family pleads guilty in malnutrition death
Starved Vermilion boy’s estate, siblings file suit
Parents of malnourished Ohio boy get prison time
Baby Isaac’s family pleads guilty in malnutrition death
‘He’s stiff as a board’: The 18-month-old boy who ‘starved to death’ as mother called 911 to claim he died suddenly… and four of her other children were found malnourished

Alicia Moore

Photo of Alicia Moore, an African-American teenage girl. She is wearing a neon-green headband, big hoop earrings, and glasses. Name: Alicia Chanta Moore.
Died: November 2, 2012.
Age at death: 16.
Cause of death: Homicide.
Location: Canton, Texas, USA.
Disability: “Special Needs”.

Details:
Alicia was raped and murdered by her great uncle.

Case status:
Michael Vincent Moore (Great uncle), convicted of murder, sentenced to life without parole.

Source:
Police say DNA links uncle to Greenville teen’s slaying
ANGELIZD’s Place – Child Abuse Pages – Alicia Chanta Moore

Hilary Milner

No Photo Name: Hilary Milner.
Died: November 1, 2012.
Age at death: 55
Cause of death: Chest trauma; injury to heart and lungs.
Location: Leeds, England, UK.
Disability: Dementia.

Details:
Hilary died shortly after being beaten by her husband.

Case status:
Trevor Milner (Husband); assault with bodily harm; 4-month suspended sentence.

Source:
Leeds dementia sufferer died hours after attack by husband
Obituary

Herman Ritchey Jr.

No Photo Name: Herman Ritchey Jr.
Died: October 24, 2012.
Age at death: 70.
Cause of death: Starvation.
Location: Mio, Michigan, USA.
Disability: Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease.

Details:
Herman’s daughter and son-in-law took his social security payments while they left Herman locked in his bedroom and denied him the medication and care he needed. He eventually died from starvation.

Case status:
Rachel Bruce (Daughter), convicted of felony murder and vulnerable adult abuse and sentenced to life without parole.
Carl Bruce (Son-in-law), convicted of felony murder and vulnerable adult abuse and sentenced to life without parole.

Source:
Oscoda County woman charged alongside husband with murder in father’s death
Herman Ray Ritchey, Jr ( – 2012) – Find A Grave Memorial
Couple charged with murdering woman’s father through abuse and neglect
Mio couple sentenced to life in prison after murder conviction
Mio Michigan Couple Charged with Relatives Murder
Couple Arrested in Oscoda County for Elderly Father’s Death
Couple convicted of killing parent to face new trial after appeal